Fabian Johnson

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Fabian Johnson was born in Munich, Germany, to an African-American serviceman and former basketball player and a German-American mother. He started playing soccer at age four at Sportfreunde München. He moved to the youth ranks of 1860 Munich in mid-1996, was promoted to the first team in July 2006, and made 89 league appearances with four goals before transferring to VfL Wolfsburg on July 14, 2009. He scored his first goal for Wolfsburg in a 2–2 draw with SC Freiburg. In July 2011, he transferred to 1899 Hoffenheim. On September 26, 2012, he scored in Hoffenheim's 3–0 win over VfB Stuttgart. On February 24, 2014, it was confirmed he would join Borussia Mönchengladbach on a free transfer after the 2013–14 season. He made his first league appearance for Mönchengladbach on August 23, 2014, and his first league start on September 13, 2014. He scored his first UEFA Champions League goal on November 3, 2015, against Juventus, and his first Bundesliga goal for the club on March 1, 2016, against SC Paderborn. On June 8, 2020, Mönchengladbach announced he would depart as a free agent at the expiration of his contract. Internationally, he was called up to the United States national team on August 25, 2011, for friendlies against Costa Rica and Belgium. He made his debut on November 11, 2011, as a substitute in a 1–0 loss to France, and his first start on November 15, 2011, against Slovenia. He played in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on June 12, 2012, against Guatemala, and earned his first assist on June 23, 2012, in a 4–1 loss to Brazil. He scored his first national team goal on June 1, 2014, in a pre-World Cup friendly against Turkey. He started all three group stage matches and the Round of 16 match in the 2014 World Cup. He scored his second national team goal on November 13, 2015, in a World Cup qualifier against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. On March 12, 2019, he spoke with head coach Gregg Berhalter about returning to the national team. He has not played for the United States since a 2–0 World Cup qualifying loss to Costa Rica on September 1, 2017.

In Their Own Story

The 2014 MLS All-Star Game against Bayern Munich saw Johnson brought in at halftime. He became captain at the 73rd minute after Landon Donovan was substituted. At the 88th minute, he received a yellow card for a hard tackle on Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who suffered a bruised ankle and had to exit what would be his last game until November. Earlier that season, on March 30, 2013, Johnson scored his first goals for Portland, both in a 2–2 draw against the Colorado Rapids, earning MLS Player of the Week. His 2014 season ended on September 27 when a collision with Toronto FC defender Mark Bloom fractured the tibia and fibula in his right leg.

Reader's Guide

Fabian Johnson played as a full-back or wide midfielder. He represented Germany at youth level and the United States at senior level. He never played for Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, or Toronto FC, and never won an MLS Cup.

Did You Know?

• Fabian Johnson was born in Munich, Germany, on December 11, 1987.
• He scored his first UEFA Champions League goal on November 3, 2015, against Juventus.
• Johnson made his United States national team debut on November 11, 2011, against France.
• He started all four matches for the United States in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.