MLS
Philadelphia native Andrew Johnson signs first team deal with Charlotte FC
Philadelphia native Andrew Johnson has officially made it to MLS after signing a first team deal with Charlotte FC.
Philadelphia native Andrew Johnson has officially made it to MLS after signing a first team deal with Charlotte FC, the team that drafted him 47th overall in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft.
Johnson returned to Cornell to finish out his college career after being drafted. The former FC Delco, Philadelphia Union Academy and Lower Merion SC standout graduated from Haverford School and spent time during college playing for Reading United and West Chester United.
“We are excited to sign Andrew to his first professional contract after impressive preseason performances with the First Team,” Charlotte FC General Manager Zoran Krneta said in a news release. “The MLS SuperDraft continues to prove to be a valuable path for young players and for the Club to identify exciting talents flying under the radar. He has shown tremendous work ethic and tendencies that will translate seamlessly into our squad. We look forward to his first professional season and the depth that they will provide in an exciting 2026 season and their progression in our Pro Player Pathway that has proven to successfully develop SuperDraft selections.”
Johnson is signed through the 2026 MLS season with a club option for June of 2027, 2027-28 and 2028-29.
Johnson, 22, was selected by Charlotte FC in the Second Round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, taken with the 47th overall selection out of Cornell University. The defender returned for his senior season where he captained the Big Red’s backline to a top ten national ranking and garnered All-Northeast Region and unanimous First Team All-Ivy honors in 2025. He finished his four-year stint at Cornell with 69 appearances, all starts, five goals and one assist across 5,929 minutes.
Johnson has six caps with St. Vincent & the Grenadines. He made his international debut in a friendly against Grenada on March 6, 2025, where he went the full 90 and has additional appearances in Gold Cup and World Cup qualification matches.
