Levonte Johnson

Levonte Johnson (born March 15, 1999) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.

Levonte Johnson
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-03-15) March 15, 1999
Place of birth Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Number 28
Youth career
Botelho ST
Brampton YSC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 EFSC Titans 20 (10)
2020 SLCC Bruins 18 (11)
2021 Seattle Redhawks 22 (9)
2022 Syracuse Orange 25 (11)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Master's FA 16+ (1+)
2019 Treasure Coast Tritons 9 (4)
2021 Portland Timbers U23 7 (1)
2022 Chicago FC United 8 (3)
2023 Whitecaps FC 2 12 (6)
2023 → Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) 1 (0)
2023– Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 20, 2023

Early life

Johnson played youth soccer with Botelho Soccer Training and Brampton YSC.[1][2] In 2011, he represented Canada at the Danone U12 Cup.[3] During his youth years, he also spent some time playing in England and Spain.[4] In 2016, he won the ROPSSA high school boys soccer title.[4]

College career

In 2019, he began attending Eastern Florida State College,[5] helping lead them to their first National Junior College Athletic Association championship game.[6] He scored a brace in the regular season opener against Morton College on August 22, 2019.[7] On September 20, 2019, he scored the double overtime winning goal to defeat the Daytona State Falcons 1-0.[8] At the end of the season he was named to the All-Region 8 Second Team.[9]

After the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he moved to Salt Lake Community College, where he guided the Bruins to their inaugural NJCAA title.[6][10] In May 2021, he was named the Scenic West Player of the Week.[11] After leading the team with eight goals, he was named to the All-Region 18 First-Team[12] and the NJCAA All-America First Team.[13]

In 2021, he transferred to Seattle University, joining the men's soccer team.[14][15] That season, he led the team in goals, assists, and points that season and helping them win the Western Athletic Conference championship.[16][17] At the end of the season, he was named to the All-WAC Second Team, the WAC All-Tournament Team, and the All-Far West Region Team.[18][19][20] During the 2021 season, Major League Soccer teams were interested in drafting him, with Charlotte FC interested in taking him with the first-overall at the 2022 MLS SuperDraft and he attended the MLS Combine, however, he did not earn a Generation Adidas deal to enter the draft before finishing college, and was therefore ineligible for the draft.[16][21]

In February 2022, Johnson transferred to Syracuse University, joining his fourth collegiate program in four years.[22][23] Prior to the 2022 season, he was named to the Mac Hermann Trophy watchlist and the United Soccer Coaches watchlist.[24][25] He made his debut on August 25, recording his first assist against the Iona Gaels.[26][27] On September 2, he scored his first goal for Syracuse in a 1-1 draw against the Vermont Catamounts.[28] In September, he was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time.[29][30] On October 18, he scored a brace against the Bucknell Bison.[31] With Syracuse, he scored 11 goals, of which eight were game-winning goals, leading the NCAA and also added six assists, finishing second in the ACC in goals and points, and helped Syracuse win the national championship.[32] He was named to the All-ACC First Team, the All-South Region First Team, and a First Team All-American in 2022.[33][34] He was also named as a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, awarded to the top collegiate player in the United States.[35][36][37]

Club career

In 2015, he began playing with Master's FA in League1 Ontario,[38] continuing with them in 2016 and 2017.[39]

In 2019, he played for the Treasure Coast Tritons in USL League Two.[40] At the end of May 2019, he was named to the Southern Conference Team of the Week.[41] In 2021, Johnson played for Portland Timbers U23.[42] With Portland, he won the Western Conference title.[43] In 2022, he played for Chicago FC United.[44]

At the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, Johnson was selected in the first round (29th overall) by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[45] After attending pre-season with the MLS club, he signed a professional contract with their second team, Whitecaps FC 2 in MLS Next Pro on February 28, 2023.[46] He scored his first goal on April 9, 2023 in a victory over North Texas SC.[47] On April 23, he scored a brace in a victory over Minnesota United FC 2.[48]

In March 2023, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps first team on a short-term loan, ahead of a CONCACAF Champions League match, but was an unused substitute.[49][50] In May 2023, he joined the first team on another short-term loan ahead of a Canadian Championship match,[51] where he made his debut and scored in a victory against York United FC on May 11.[52] He signed a third short-term loan at the end of May,[53] making his MLS debut on May 27 against St. Louis City SC.[54] He signed his fourth short term loan on June 6 (league rules allow up to four such loans per player per season).[55] On June 30, he signed a full MLS contract with the first team for the remainder of the season, with club options for 2024 and 2025.[56]

Career statistics
As of match played September 20, 2023[57]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Masters FA 2015 League1 Ontario ??––––??
2016[58] 151––––151
2017[59] 10––––10
Total 16100000000161
Treasure Coast Tritons 2019[40] USL League Two 94––––94
Portland Timbers U23 2021[42] USL League Two 7100–––71
Chicago FC United 2022[44] USL League Two 832200––105
Whitecaps FC 2 2023 MLS Next Pro 12600–––126
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) 2023 MLS 100021––31
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 600000–2080
Total 7100210020111
Career total 5915222100206518

References
  1. "The world is at their feet". Brampton Guardian. August 7, 2011.
  2. "Soccer club takes tourney crown". Brampton Guardian. January 13, 2011.
  3. "Players heading to Spain". Brampton Guardian. August 18, 2011.
  4. Juzenas, Frank (May 27, 2016). "Suzuki Grizzlies capture ROPSSAA boys' soccer title". Brampton Guardian.
  5. "Levonte Johnson EFSC profile". Eastern Florida State College.
  6. Davidson, Neil (January 5, 2023). "Whitecaps pick Levonte Johnson looks to add to blue-chip soccer resume with MAC Hermann Trophy". The Province.
  7. "Men's soccer team has big night in season opener". Eastern Florida State College. August 23, 2019.
  8. "Levonte Johnson lifts men's soccer team to win in double overtime". Eastern Florida State College. September 20, 2019.
  9. "Seven men's soccer players recognized by Region 8". Eastern Florida State College. November 13, 2019.
  10. "Levonte Johnson SLCC profile". Salt Lake Community College.
  11. Oglesby, Jon (May 4, 2021). "No. 2 SLCC Soccer's Johnson named Scenic West 'Men's Player-of-the-Week'". Salt Lake Community College.
  12. Oglesby, Jon (May 18, 2021). "No. 2 SLCC Men's Soccer controls All-Region 18 honors". Salt Lake Community College.
  13. Oglesby, Jon (July 1, 2021). "NJCAA champ SLCC Men's Soccer places several on NJCAA All-America list". Salt Lake Community College.
  14. "Seattle U Announces New Class". Seattle Redhawks. August 11, 2021.
  15. "Levonte Johnson Seattle Redhawks profile". Seattle Redhawks.
  16. "Johnson Invited to MLS Combine". Seattle Redhawks. December 8, 2021.
  17. "Johnson Gives Redhawks First Round Bye". Seattle Redhawks. November 6, 2021.
  18. "Four Redhawks Earn All-WAC Awards". Seattle Redhawks. November 9, 2021.
  19. "Seattle U Heads to Portland for NCAA Tournament". Seattle Redhawks. November 15, 2021.
  20. "Four Redhawks Named to All-Region Team". Seattle Redhawks. December 7, 2021.
  21. Pignatello, Connor (September 13, 2022). "After making stops across the world, Levonte Johnson is back home". The Daily Orange.
  22. MacWilliam, Jesse (December 1, 2022). "Soccer career comes full circle for SU's Levonte Johnson". Spectrum News.
  23. "McIntyre Welcomes Four New Orange". Syracuse Orange. February 1, 2022.
  24. "Levonte Johnson Named To Hermann Watch List". Syracuse Orange. August 25, 2022.
  25. "Johnson Named To United Soccer Coach's Watch List". Syracuse Orange. August 17, 2022.
  26. "Syracuse Prevails Against Iona in Season Opener". Syracuse Orange. August 25, 2022.
  27. O'Brien, Henry (August 25, 2022). "Nathan Opoku, Levonte Johnson propel SU's attack early in season". The Daily Orange.
  28. "Syracuse Draws 1-1 With Vermont". Syracuse Orange. September 2, 2022.
  29. "Johnson, Shealy Earn ACC Players Of The Week Honors". Syracuse Orange. September 20, 2022.
  30. Pignatello, Connor (September 20, 2022). "Levonte Johnson and Russell Shealy named ACC Players of the Week". The Daily Orange.
  31. O'Brien, Henry (October 18, 2022). "Levonte Johnson's 2 goals just enough for No. 4 Syracuse to get by Bucknell".
  32. Davidson, Neil (December 16, 2022). "Canadian forward Levonte Johnson a finalist for soccer's MAC Hermann Trophy". CTV News.
  33. Davidson, Neil (December 9, 2022). "Canada's Levonte Johnson, a senior forward at Syracuse, named first-team all-American". Toronto Star.
  34. "Johnson, Opoku Garner USC All-America Honors". Syracuse Orange. December 9, 2022.
  35. "Brampton native Levonte Johnson a finalist for NCAA soccer's MAC Hermann Trophy". Canadian Soccer Daily. December 15, 2022.
  36. Lewis, Michael (December 15, 2022). "Hermann Trophy: Johnson, McGuire, Stroud are the 3 men's finalists". Front Row Soccer.
  37. Bambini, Cole (December 15, 2022). "Levonte Johnson named finalist for MAC Hermann trophy". The Daily Orange.
  38. "Durham United FC 4 - Master's FA Saints 3". League1 Ontario. September 13, 2015.
  39. "College star Levonte Johnson among ex-L1O players drafted to MLS". League1 Ontario. 22 December 2022.
  40. "Levonte Johnson 2019 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
  41. "League Two Conf. Teams of the Week: 5/29". Top Drawer Soccer. May 29, 2019.
  42. "Levonte Johnson 2021 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
  43. Keegan, Jordan (July 26, 2021). "Timbers U23 are Crowned Champions of the USL 2 Western Conference". Portland Timbers U23.
  44. "Levonte Johnson 2022 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
  45. "Whitecaps FC select Canadian forward Levonte Johnson 29th overall in 2023 MLS SuperDraft". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 21, 2022.
  46. "Whitecaps FC 2 sign Canadians Gloire Amanda, Levonte Johnson and Malcolm Johnston, re-sign Giovanni Aguilar". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. February 28, 2023.
  47. "WFC2 extend unbeaten run with 4-1 road victory against North Texas SC". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. April 9, 2023.
  48. Fossey, Maxim (April 24, 2023). "WFC2 claim dominant 5-2 victory over MNUFC2 at Swangard". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  49. "Whitecaps FC sign WFC2 midfielder Vasco Fry and forward Levonte Johnson to MLS short-term agreements". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. March 15, 2023.
  50. "Whitecaps FC sign WFC2 forward Levonte Johnson to second MLS short-term agreement". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. May 9, 2023.
  51. Jacques, John (May 9, 2023). "'Caps Add Levonte Johnson For Cup Match Against York United". Northern Tribune.
  52. O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (May 10, 2023). "Match Analysis: Whitecaps top York United with slew of late goals in CanChamp QF". Canadian Premier League.
  53. "Whitecaps FC sign WFC2 forward Levonte Johnson to third MLS short-term agreement". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. May 23, 2023.
  54. "Whitecaps FC sign MLS NEXT Pro forward Levonte Johnson to an MLS contract". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. June 30, 2023.
  55. "Whitecaps FC sign WFC2 forward Levonte Johnson to fourth MLS short-term agreement". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. June 6, 2023.
  56. Adams, J.J. (June 30, 2023). "Levonte Johnson breaks through to Whitecaps first team". The Province.
  57. Levonte Johnson at Soccerway
  58. "Levonte Johnson 2016 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  59. "Levonte Johnson 2017 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.

Levonte Johnson at Soccerway

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