MLS the perfect place for Fabian Johnson to shine

Fabian Johnson’s contract at Borussia Monchengladbach will expire this summer. MLS offers the ideal place for him to shine in the latter stages of his career.

Fabian Johnson has never quite fulfilled his potential. The now 32-year-old was once thought of as the brightest talent in American soccer. He proved semi-successful in Europe, but he never reached the same level as his counterparts, especially those in the Premier League.

This summer, his time across the pond might be coming to an end. Johnson’s contract with Borussia Monchengladbach is set to expire and he is expected to leave the club. He will be available on a free transfer.

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As is always the case with any American or Canadian player who has played in Europe and is reaching the latter stages of their career, the discussion regarding their future immediately turns to Major League Soccer and whether they could excel on home soil. The success of Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey and others has only added to this lore. Could Johnson be the next?

Herculez Gomez, who played with Johnson at the international level, certainly thinks so. Speaking to ESPN FC, he said:

"“When we were teammates together on U.S. Men’s National Team, I thought he was easily the most talented player in that pool. And this is the likes of Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, Michael Bradley, DaMarcus Beasley, Jermaine Jones etc. I thought he was the most talented player in the pool <…> I feel like he can be a very good player in MLS, at the right price. You are not going to spend millions on him. But if he sees this as an opportunity to get that revenge factor, that vindication, and he comes into MLS at the right price, I think he could be a great addition.”"

As Gomez states, Johnson could certainly be an excellent acquisition for an MLS team. While the standard of the league is higher than it was when Bradley and Altidore arrived, for example, Johnson has had more success in a top-five European league than either. He is still in the backend of his prime. There is little reason to think that he cannot have 80% of the impact as the pair did when they arrived in Toronto.

Of course, this depends on the price. If Johnson demands a DP salary and wants to be paid like one of the elite players in the league, teams may have to look elsewhere. And they would be well within their rights to given the standard of European players that have commanded those salaries in recent years — Johnson comes nowhere near to Bastian Schweinsteiger or Zlatan Ibrahimovic or David Villa, for instance.

However, from Johnson’s perspective, dropping down a level and returning home could be the perfect place to shine. He has struggled for regular playing time, making just six league appearances this season, and could slot straight into a team at a lower standard and immediately flourish.

Johnson is not an elite player. But he can still be hugely valuable for an MLS team. And if he is willing to make the move, it could be the perfect place to resurrect his career.