Isaiah Johnston (born December 16, 2001) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Loudoun United in the USL Championship.

Isaiah Johnston
Johnston in 2022
Personal information
Full name Isaiah Johnston
Date of birth (2001-12-16) December 16, 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Loudoun United
Number 44
Youth career
Georgetown SC
Milton YSC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 CBU Capers 8 (1)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Woodbridge Strikers 24 (2)
2020–2022 York United 47 (3)
2023–2024 Huntsville City 33 (3)
2024– Loudoun United 14 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 19, 2024

Early life

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Johnston was born in Mississauga, before moving to Georgetown, when he was one year old.[1] There, he began playing soccer at age six with Georgetown SC.[1] At age thirteen, he and his family moved to Milton,[1] where he played for Milton YSC.[2] In 2017, he was named to the U18 Team Ontario for the 2017 Canada Summer Games.[3]

University career

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In October 2018, he committed to attend Cape Breton University to play for the Cape Breton Capers for the fall of 2019.[4][5] During 2019, he was named Player of the Game twice — on September 15 in a 5–0 win over the Mount Allison Mounties and on September 22 in a 6–0 win over the Acadia Axemen.[6] In his rookie season, he won a bronze medal at the national championships[7] and he was named the AUS Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-Rookie Team.[6][8] After one season, he departed Cape Breton, opting to turn professional instead.[9]

Club career

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From 2017 to 2019, Johnston played for League1 Ontario side Woodbridge Strikers.[10][11][12] In 2019, he was invited to pre-season with York9 FC of the Canadian Premier League and was then invited to continue with their pre-season camp later in the Dominican Republic.[9]

At the 2019 CPL–U Sports Draft, Johnston was selected 10th overall by York9 FC (later renamed York United).[13][14] In July 2020, he signed his first professional contract with York.[15][16] 2021 was a breakout season for Johnston, as he became a regular starter, and was ranked the 27th best player in the Canadian Premier League at the end of the season.[17] Johnston scored his first goal for York on July 24, 2021 against FC Edmonton.[18][19] In 2021, he was nominated for the CPL Assist of the Year.[20] In November 2021, he signed an extension with the club.[21][22] On July 15, 2022, he recorded two assists in a match against Pacific FC.[23]

In December 2022, Johnston transferred to MLS Next Pro side Huntsville City FC, the reserve side of Nashville SC, for the 2023 season, becoming the team's first ever signing.[24][25] He made his debut on March 26 against Crown Legacy FC.[26] He scored his first goal on May 12 against Chicago Fire FC II.[27] On July 9, 2023, he scored a brace in a 6-2 victory over Orlando City B.[28]

In late June 2024, Johnston joined USL Championship club Loudoun United FC on a transfer, signing a two-year contract with options for 2026 and 2027.[29] He made his debut on June 29, in a substitute appearance, against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.[30]

International career

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In 2016, he made his debut in the Canadian youth program at age 14 at an identification camp for the Canada U15 team.[1] In May 2016, he was named to the Canada U15 Select squad for the Canada Soccer U-15 Showcase, facing the Toronto FC Academy, Montreal Impact Academy, and Vancouver Whitecaps Academy teams.[2]

Career statistics

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As of October 19, 2024[31]
Club statistics
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Woodbridge Strikers 2017[10] League1 Ontario 5 1 0 0 5 1
2018[11] 7 0 3 0 10 0
2019[12] 12 1 0 0 12 1
Total 24 2 3 0 0 0 27 2
York United 2020 Canadian Premier League 3 0 3 0
2021 25 3 1 0 2 0 28 3
2022 19 0 3 1 22 1
Total 47 3 1 0 5 1 53 4
Huntsville City FC 2023 MLS Next Pro 20 3 20 3
2024 13 0 13 0
Total 33 3 0 0 0 0 33 3
Loudoun United 2024 USL Championship 14 1 0 0 0 0 14 1
Career total 118 9 4 0 5 1 127 10

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Isaiah Johnston at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. ^ a b "Eight Ontario Players Called To Canadian Select Squad". Ontario Soccer Association. May 3, 2016.
  3. ^ "Ontario Soccer announces its Canada Games rosters". Ontario Soccer Association. July 18, 2017.
  4. ^ "MSOC: Capers announce signing of Isaiah Johnston". Cape Breton Capers. October 24, 2018.
  5. ^ "Isaiah Johnston Cape Breton profile". Cape Breton Capers.
  6. ^ a b "2019 AUS men's soccer major award winners and all-stars announced". Atlantic University Sport. October 30, 2019.
  7. ^ "York9 FC signs U SPORTS pick Isaiah Johnston, releases Adrián Ugarriza". Canadian Premier League. July 6, 2020.
  8. ^ Jacques, John (July 6, 2020). "York9 FC Releases Adrian Ugarriza, Signs Isaiah Johnston". Northern Tribune.
  9. ^ a b Thompson, Marty (July 15, 2020). "Isaiah Johnston on historic York9 move, forgoing U SPORTS: 'Cape Breton created a neat stopgap'". Canadian Premier League.
  10. ^ a b "Isaiah Johnston 2017 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario. Archived from the original on November 13, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Isaiah Johnston 2018 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario. Archived from the original on November 13, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Isaiah Johnston 2019 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario. Archived from the original on November 13, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  13. ^ "Record Number of CAPERS taken in CPL Draft". Cape Breton Capers. November 12, 2019.
  14. ^ "Congratulations to Isaiah Johnston!". Woodbridge Strikers. November 12, 2019.
  15. ^ "Capers rookie Johnston signs professional contract with York9 FC". SaltWire Network. July 7, 2020.
  16. ^ Veth, Manuel (July 7, 2020). "York9 FC sign Isaiah Johnston – Release Adrian Ugarizza". Transfermarkt.
  17. ^ "CPL50 – 27. Isaiah Johnston (York United)". Canadian Premier League. December 15, 2021.
  18. ^ Reid, Brady (July 24, 2021). "Highlights: Johnston's first CPL goal sees York United past FC Edmonton in 1–0 win". Canadian Premier League.
  19. ^ Steiner, Ben (April 7, 2022). "Johnston set for breakout season and U SPORTS players to watch in the CPL's eastern 4". 49 Sport.
  20. ^ Rhodes, Benedict (December 16, 2021). "Isaiah Johnston is a focal point in a young York core: The Next Gen Presented by Jones DesLauriers , Navacord". Canadian Premier League.
  21. ^ Jacques, John (November 1, 2021). "Isaiah Johnston Extends Contract With York United". Northern Tribune.
  22. ^ "Isaiah Johnston signs contract extension until 2024". York United FC. November 1, 2021.
  23. ^ "'An immensely talented young man': Johnston sparkles as York United seek resurgence". York United FC. July 19, 2022.
  24. ^ "York United FC confirms transfer of Isaiah Johnston to MLS NEXT Pro side Huntsville City FC". York United FC. December 19, 2022.
  25. ^ Jacques, John (December 19, 2022). "Huntsville City FC Inks Isaiah Johnston". Northern Tribune.
  26. ^ Jacques, John (March 27, 2023). "Former CPL Talents Shine In MLS Next Pro Opening Weekend". Northern Tribune.
  27. ^ "Huntsville City Football Club Earns Two Points on the Road Following Shootout Win over Chicago Fire II". Huntsville City FC. May 12, 2023.
  28. ^ "Huntsville City FC Transfers Midfielder Isaiah Johnston to Loudoun United FC". Huntsville City FC. June 28, 2024.
  29. ^ "Loudoun United FC Sign Midfielder Isaiah Johnston Through 2025". Loudoun United FC. June 28, 2024.
  30. ^ "Match Recap - LDNvTBR". Loudoun United FC. June 29, 2024.
  31. ^ Isaiah Johnston at Soccerway
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