Real Salt Lake Trades MF Will Johnson to Portland Timbers FC

The trade comes hours after Real Salt Lake sent FW Fabian Espindola and DF Jamison Olave to New York in exchange for allocation money. Salary cap constraints were the main motivator for both moves.

Johnson, 25, spent the better part of five seasons with RSL, arriving at the club on Aug. 22, 2008. The Canadian international appeared in 114 regular season games - starting 104 - for the Claret-and-Cobalt, scoring 10 goals and notching eight assists in MLS play for the Utah side. Johnson also was voted the 2008 MLS Goal of the Year winner.

"We thank Will for his five incredible years of service to Real Salt Lake," RSL GM Garth Lagerwey said. "He was a big part of RSL's foundation, playing a major role in our 2009 MLS Cup Championship, our run to the 2010/11 CCL Final and our five-straight postseason appearances."

Johnson was a key part of the RSL core during his time in Salt Lake. Known for his strong work rate on both sides of the ball, Johnson is eighth in RSL history in games played, games started and minutes played (9,445) as well as sixth all-time in shots on goal (77).

Along with being the only player in club history to feature in all 16 of RSL's CONCACAF Champions League matches from 2010-12, Johnson is one of just three players to participate in all 14 of the Claret-and-Cobalt's MLS Cup Playoff games. He is third all-time in RSL history in postseason minutes played (1,187), trailing only GK Nick Rimando and MF Kyle Beckerman (1,320 each).

Johnson was a part of RSL squads that won MLS Cup 2009, advanced to the 2010/11 CONCACAF Champions League Final and qualified for an active league-high five-consecutive MLS Cup Playoff appearances from 2008-12.

"Will's arrival in the summer of 2008 was one of the major tipping points in our club's history," Lagerwey said. "RSL truly would not be where it is without Will. We can't thank him enough for helping us establish not only a good team, but also a winning culture. We wish him all the best in Portland."

Player: Will Johnson

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 160 lbs.

Date of Birth: Jan. 21, 1987

Birthplace: Toronto, Canada

Citizenship: Canada

How acquired: Signed with MLS on Aug. 15, 2008; Rights acquired in trade with Chicago Fire on Aug. 22, 2008.

How departed: Traded to Portland Timbers FC in exchange for allocation money on Dec. 3, 2012.

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Major League Soccer Stories from December 3, 2012

• LA Galaxy Make Six Players Available for Re-Entry Process - Los Angeles Galaxy
• Earthquakes Weekly Update: December 3, 2012 - San Jose Earthquakes
• Real Salt Lake Signs GK Jeff Attinella - Real Salt Lake
• Weekly Update: Rapids Players Begin Training with Derby - Colorado Rapids
• Re-Entry Process Eligible Player List Announced - MLS
• Whitecaps FC Exercise 2013 Options on Eight Players - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Chicago Fire Decline Options on Three Players - Chicago Fire
• Real Salt Lake Trades MF Will Johnson to Portland Timbers FC - Real Salt Lake
• Rapids Acquire Atiba Harris in Trade with Vancouver Whitecaps - Colorado Rapids
• Whitecaps FC Acquire International Roster Spot from Colorado Rapids for Striker Atiba Harris - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Timbers Acquire Midfielder Will Johnson from Real Salt Lake for Allocation Money - Portland Timbers
• Red Bulls Acquire Forward Fabian Espindola and Defender Jamison Olave - New York Red Bulls
• D.C. United Declines Options on Four Players - D.C. United
• Real Salt Lake Trades FW Fabian Espindola and DF Jamison Olave to New York - Real Salt Lake
• Timbers Decline Options on Palmer, Purdy - Portland Timbers
• Dynamo Acquire Defender Eric Brunner from Portland Timbers in Exchange for Allocation Money - Houston Dynamo
• Timbers Acquire Allocation Money from Houston for Defender Eric Brunner - Portland Timbers
• Sporting Kansas City Trades Michael Harrington to Portland Timbers for Allocation Money - Sporting Kansas City
• Timbers Acquire Defender Michael Harrington from Sporting KC for Allocation Money - Portland Timbers
• Red Bulls Acquire Defender Kosuke Kimura from Portland Timbers - New York Red Bulls
• Timbers Acquire Allocation, Homegrown Rights for Bryan Gallego from New York - Portland Timbers
• Toronto FC Acquires Justin Braun from Real Salt Lake - Toronto FC
• Real Salt Lake Trades FW Justin Braun to Toronto FC for DF Aaron Maund - Real Salt Lake
• Revs Announce 2013 Preseason Plans - New England Revolution
• Real Salt Lake Signs DF Chris Wingert and DF Tony Beltran to Contract Extensions - Real Salt Lake
• Real Salt Lake Declines Contract Options on Four Players - Real Salt Lake
• LA Galaxy to host championship celebration on Monday night at The Home Depot Center - Los Angeles Galaxy

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