Joel Johnson (footballer)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Johnson and the second or maternal family name is Alajarín.

Joel Johnson Alajarín (born 20 September 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back for USL League One club Westchester SC. Born in Spain, he represents the Liberia national team.

Joel Johnson

Johnson with Charlotte Independence in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Joel Johnson Alajarín[1]
Date of birth	(1992-09-20) 20 September 1992 (age 32)[1]
Place of birth	Torrent, Spain
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Westchester
Number	5
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	6	(0)
International career‡
2018–	Liberia	10	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:28, 21 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 09:37, 11 December 2023 (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]