Veteran goalkeeper Sean Johnson says farewell to Toronto, signs with D.C. United

TORONTO – Unwanted by Toronto FC, veteran goalkeeper Sean Johnson signed with D.C. United as a free agent Tuesday.

D.C. United said the 36-year-old ‘keeper has signed a one-and-a-half-year contract through June 2027. 

“Sean is an experienced and proven goalkeeper who has consistently performed at a high level throughout his career,” Erkut Sogut, D.C. United’s managing director of soccer operations, said in a statement. “He brings valuable international experience having represented the U.S. men’s national team, and his leadership and competitive mentality will elevate our entire team.

“Sean is a proven winner having won the 2021 MLS Cup with New York (City FC), and we look forward to welcoming him to the Black-and-Red family.” 

Luis Barraza, who started 24 regular-season games for D.C. United last season, is a free agent. The club also has goalkeepers Jordan Farr and Kim Joon Hong under contract.

Johnson is leaving a Toronto club that finished the season 12th in the Eastern Conference at 6-14-14, six points ahead of 15th-place D.C. United at 5-18-11.

Toronto finished out of the playoffs for the fifth straight year.

The news was not unexpected given Toronto had announced in late October that it was declining the 2026 contract option on the 36-year-old ‘keeper. But Johnson made it official Tuesday, saying farewell in a social media post.

“Putting on the crest at Toronto FC was an honour I never took lightly,” he wrote, giving thanks to both the club and its fans.

“As I move on to the next chapter, I leave with gratitude and appreciation for the people, the work and the moments that shaped my time at the club,” he added. “Toronto will always be part of my journey. Thank you for everything.”

Johnson joined Toronto in January 2023 as a free agent after six years with NYCFC and six with the Chicago Fire, which picked him in the fourth round (51st overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.

Johnson, who made his MLS debut at 21 in August 2010, was arguably Toronto’s best player this season, ranking fifth in the league with 111 saves and ninth with a 1.32 goals-against average behind a team that recorded just six wins. The 15-year veteran stood on his head in many games, prompting coach Robin Fraser to wonder out loud on several occasions why he was not back in U.S. colours.

Johnson, just the fourth player in MLS history to record 100 regular-season clean sheets, posted seven shutouts in 2025.

But Johnson did not come cheap with a 2025 salary of US$1,063,125. Backup Luka Gavran is both younger, at 25, and cheaper, at $128,475.

Johnson’s pay placed him along the league’s elite ‘keepers, in the same neighbourhood as St. Louis’ Roman Burki ($1.71 million), Orlando’s Pedro Gallese ($1.25 million) and Philadelphia’s Andre Blake ($1.18 million).

And with Johnson no doubt looking to maximize what could be his last contract, his price range was expected to go up.

Toronto signalled Gavran may be ready for prime time when he was one of five players selected to talk to reporters at the end-of-season media availability. He was also called into camp by Canada coach Jesse Marsch.

Gavran has just 16 regular-season games under his belt while Johnson has 418 (plus 15 playoff appearances).

Asked whether Gavran is ready to step up as the starter, Toronto GM Jason Hernandez chose his words carefully.

“I believe Luka has a lot of positives for us, specifically his growth within our environment in the second team, on having first-team matches this year, cup games and obviously getting recognized by the Canadian men’s national team, so I think Luka’s in position in a really good way to take another step,” Hernandez said at the end-of-season availability. “So we’re just happy with his progress.”

The six-foot-six Gavran was called into camp during the October international window by Marsch after James Pantemis was sidelined by a concussion.

Gavran, who started three league and one Canadian Championship games this season, called 2025 “a step in the right direction” but said he was hungry for more action.

“Not as much playing time as the year before (when he started nine games in place of the injured Johnson) unfortunately but that’s the position of a goalkeeper,” he told the club’s end-of-season availability Tuesday. 

“For me to stay level-headed and perform as best as I could when I was called upon and stay focused in training and still push my teammates was very important. So that was definitely a learning lesson.”

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2025