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.
Club career Born in Torrent, Valencia, to a Liberian father and a Spanish mother,My Story: Joel Johnson; Hartford Athletic, 30 June 2022 Johnson was a product of Valencia CF's youth system.Joel Johnson, a un paso de debutar (Joel Johnson, close to making debut); Las Provincias, 7 March 2010 (in Spanish) He made his senior debut at only 17, appearing with the reserves in the Segunda División B and suffering relegation in 2010.La victoria del Espanyol B certifica el descenso del Mestalla a Tercera (Espanyol B win confirms Mestalla's relegation to Tercera); Levante-EMV, 26 April 2010 (in Spanish)
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.Los Che frustrated by Santander again ; ESPN Soccernet, 8 March 2010Joel: "Impresiona jugar en Mestalla" (Joel: "It's impressive to play in Mestalla"); Las Provincias, 9 March 2010 (in Spanish) 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.El Real Madrid C se refuerza con Joel Johnson (Real Madrid C bolster with Joel Johnson); Defensa Central, 19 July 2012 (in Spanish)Joel Johnson, último fichaje del Real Jaén (Joel Johnson, last signing of Real Jaén); Ideal, 1 September 2014 (in Spanish)El Buñol da con la tecla (Buñol hit the spot); Golsmedia, 16 November 2015 (in Spanish)
After a season with CD Buñol in the Tercera División, Johnson signed with USL Championship side Charlotte Independence on 6 April 2016.Independence sign Spanish defender Johnson; United Soccer League, 7 April 2016 Six years later, he joined Hartford Athletic of the same country and league.Hartford Athletic signs veteran USL Championship defender Joel Johnson; Hartford Athletic, 18 March 2022
Johnson returned to the Independence in February 2023.Veteran Spanish defender Joel Johnson returns to Charlotte; USL League One, 14 February 2023 With the club having moved down to USL League One to better serve its youth players,As Charlotte prepares for MLS, Independence moves to lower USL division; The Charlotte Observer, 2 December 2021 he scored a career-best seven goals in the first season in his second spell, adding four assists.All-time Independence appearance leader Joel Johnson returning to Charlotte in 2024; Charlotte Independence, 12 January 2024
In January 2025, Johnson moved to new expansion third-tier side Westchester SC.WSC adds pair of veteran defenders, El Salvador youth international; USL League One, 21 January 2025
International career Johnson received his first call for the Liberia national team on 31 August 2016,Joel Johnson receives call up from Liberian national team ; Charlotte Independence, 31 August 2016 being an unused substitute in the 4–1 away loss to Tunisia for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying phase the following week.Tunisia beats Liberia 4–1 in Tunis – Togo thumps Djibouti 5–0 to qualify ; Front Page Africa, 4 September 2016 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.Thomas Kojo ‘impressed’ with Johnson’s debut performance ; Liberian Observer, 12 September 2018
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