After five seasons with FC Dallas, Eddie Johnson is on his way to Kansas City. The talented 21-year-old was picked up by the Wizards on Tuesday, as the club sent a pair of allocations to Pizza Hut Park in exchange for the services of one of the league's most talented and promising attacking players.
While the Wizards are currently working out under head coach Bob Gansler in Tampa, Johnson will remain at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., where he is taking part in the U.S. national team's training camp. Fittingly for Johnson, the Red, White and Blue will wrap up a three-game home stretch this Sunday at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas, giving Johnson a chance to leave the area in which his talents blossomed in style.
"Dallas was a great place for me. I learned a lot while I was there. I thank the organization for all they did for me and having the confidence to draft me when I was so young," Johnson said Tuesday.
"They made me into who I am today. At the end of the day, soccer is a game and also a business. Dallas has to look out for what's best for them, and I have to look out for my best interests as well. Overall, I had a great time there, and I'm looking forward to going back to Pizza Hut Park this weekend and seeing all the great fans."
Regardless of what happens Sunday when the U.S. team faces Guatemala (2 p.m. ET, ESPN2), Johnson will leave the fans in Dallas with quite a few good memories, not to mention some of his own.
The club signed him as a 16-year-old, snatching him from the U.S. U-17 residency program in Bradenton, Fla. While it took some time for Johnson to come into his own, he did eventually find his way, having a breakout season in 2004, during which he had a share of the league lead in goals with 12. That led to international call-ups, and Johnson didn't disappoint at the highest level either. He has recorded eight goals in just 10 appearances for U.S. national team manager Bruce Arena's side.
A new opportunity awaits Johnson in Kansas City, but he'll have several familiar faces around at his new club as well. The partnership that Gansler now has up front with two goal scorers proven at the international level is one that every team in the league would love to have.
"I think he goes to a good team. Having Eddie around the veteran leaders such as Josh Wolff, Kerry Zavagnin (and) Jimmy Conrad specifically, I think is going todo nothing but good for his game," said Arena. "I think he needs a good environment on a daily basis to be around, and I think with the leadership of those players and having an experienced coach like Bob Gansler, he's a great addition to the Kansas City team and I think it will only help his game."
Johnson agrees.
"I'm thrilled. I think it's a good move for me," he said. "I'm going to be around a lot of good players. I think Josh and I are going to make a good combination up top. He's a guy I looked up to when I was growing up. Kansas City is a good team with a lot of good players and a lot of guys that I'm friends with. They have a great coach. I can only get better there. I'm really looking forward to it."
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
