Joel Johnson (footballer)


Joel Johnson Alajarín is a Liberian footballer who plays for North American club Charlotte Independence as a right back.

Club career

Born in Torrent, Valencia to a Liberian father and a Spanish mother, Joel was a product of Valencia CF's youth system. He made his senior debut at only 17, appearing with the reserves in Segunda División B and eventually suffering relegation.
On 8 March 2010, as both right-backs in the first team, Bruno and Miguel, were unavailable, Joel made his first La Liga appearance, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Racing de Santander. Released on 30 June 2012, he went on to compete solely in the lower leagues, first with Real Madrid C and then with Real Jaén, both in the third tier.
After a season with CD Buñol in Tercera División, Johnson signed with United Soccer League side Charlotte Independence on 6 April 2016.

International career

Johnson received his first call for the Liberia national team on 31 August 2016, being an unused substitute in the 1–4 away loss to Tunisia for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying phase the following week. He only won his first cap on 9 September 2018, starting and playing 90 minutes in a 1–1 draw against DR Congo for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.