New York City FC added another goalkeeper on Tuesday, signing 22-year-old Norwegian youth international Eirik Johansen on a permanent deal from Manchester City.
The 6-foot-7 Johansen trained with NYCFC this preseason, playing as a second half substitute in friendlies against Danish club Brondby in Manchester and against the Houston Dynamo at the Carolina Challenge Cup.
“We had a good look at Eirik over the course of the preseason, and he adapted well to the team and to our style of play,” NYCFC head coach Jason Kreis said in a statement released by the club. “It’s always good to have strong competition for places in the team, and Eirik will add to an already strong group of goalkeepers vying for game time. It’s a long season and guys will get their opportunities for various reasons.”
Johansen joined the Manchester City academy in August 2008, signing a professional contract with the club in 2012. He was sent on two loans while at Man City, playing eight games with English League One side Scunthorpe United in 2013 and appearing in 28 contests with Norwegian Tippeligaen side Sandefjord in 2013.
Johansen, who has 33 appearances with Norway’s youth national teams, is one of four goalkeepers on NYCFC’s roster, joining starter Josh Saunders and backups Ryan Meara and Akira Fitzgerald.
