Joel Johnson (footballer)
Liberian footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joel Johnson Alajarín (born 20 September 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back. Born in Spain, he represented the Liberia national team.
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Johnson with Charlotte Independence in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joel Johnson Alajarín[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 20 September 1992[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Torrent, Spain | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Right-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2001 | Torrent | ||
| 2001–2009 | Valencia | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2012 | Valencia B | 69 | (1) |
| 2010 | Valencia | 1 | (0) |
| 2012–2014 | Real Madrid C | 50 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Jaén | 16 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Buñol | 9 | (0) |
| 2016–2021 | Charlotte Independence | 146 | (3) |
| 2022 | Hartford Athletic | 34 | (4) |
| 2023–2024 | Charlotte Independence | 58 | (10) |
| 2025 | Westchester SC | 26 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2018–2023 | Liberia | 10 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13:17, 2 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Born in Torrent, Valencia, to a Liberian father and a Spanish mother,[2] Johnson was a product of Valencia CF's youth system.[3] He made his senior debut at only 17, appearing with the reserves in the Segunda División B and suffering relegation in 2010.[4]
On 8 March 2010, as both right-backs in the first team, Bruno and Miguel, were unavailable, Johnson made his only La Liga appearance, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Racing de Santander.[5][6] 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.[7][8][9]
After a season with CD Buñol in the Tercera División, Johnson signed with USL Championship side Charlotte Independence on 6 April 2016.[10] Six years later, he joined Hartford Athletic of the same country and league.[11]
Johnson returned to the Independence in February 2023.[12] With the club having moved down to USL League One to better serve its youth players,[13] he scored a career-best seven goals in the first season in his second spell, adding four assists.[14]
In January 2025, Johnson moved to new expansion third-tier side Westchester SC.[15]
International career
Johnson received his first call for the Liberia national team on 31 August 2016,[16] being an unused substitute in the 4–1 away loss to Tunisia for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying phase the following week.[17] 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.[18]