CMNT regular Johnson moves to Portland; Whitecaps deal Harris

Will Johnson has moved to Portland. Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson has confirmed that the Canadian national-team regular was part of Monday’s MLS trade frenzy, a day that also saw the Whitecaps send little-used forward Atiba Harris to the Colorado Rapids for an international roster spot. Johnson moves from Real Salt Lake to Cascadia. “Welcome @WillJohnson08. Hated playing against you, cannot wait to watch you play for us!” tweeted Paulson on Monday. “It is with a tremendously sad heart that we at RSL say good bye to 3 absolute legends: Jamison, Fabian, and Will,” tweeted Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis. Before the Johnson deal was announced, defender Jamison Olave and forward Fabian Espindola were sent to New York in a blockbuster deal, as the Utah club looks to rebuild for next season. Johnson scored nine times over five season for RSL, but was a regular starter in the midfield or on the wing. He was also known for being the fittest player on the club, winning preseason fitness tests and having a work ethic that was second to none in Utah. Johnson logged more than 2,000 minutes a season over the last four years for RSL. His played no fewer than 25 games a season. And his MLS success translated into regular call-ups for the Canadian national team. That likely won’t change with the trade to Portland/.