| Joel Johnson | |
| Full Name: | Joel Johnson Alajarín |
| Birth Date: | 20 September 1992 |
| Birth Place: | Torrent, Spain |
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in |
| Position: | Right-back |
| Currentclub: | Charlotte Independence |
| Clubnumber: | 8 |
| Youthyears1: | 2000–2001 |
| Youthclubs1: | Torrent |
| Youthyears2: | 2001–2009 |
| Youthclubs2: | Valencia |
| Years1: | 2009–2012 |
| Caps1: | 69 |
| Goals1: | 1 |
| Years2: | 2010 |
| Caps2: | 1 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2012–2014 |
| Caps3: | 50 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2014–2015 |
| Caps4: | 16 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2015–2016 |
| Caps5: | 9 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2016–2021 |
| Caps6: | 146 |
| Goals6: | 3 |
| Years7: | 2022 |
| Caps7: | 34 |
| Goals7: | 4 |
| Years8: | 2023– |
| Caps8: | 35 |
| Goals8: | 7 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2018– |
| Nationalcaps1: | 10 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 09:36, 11 December 2023 (UTC) |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 09:37, 11 December 2023 (UTC) |
Joel Johnson Alajarín (born 20 September 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back for USL League One club Charlotte Independence. Born in Spain, he represents the Liberia national team.
Born in Torrent, Valencia, to a Liberian father and a Spanish mother, Johnson was a product of Valencia CF's youth system.[1] He made his senior debut at only 17, appearing with the reserves in the Segunda División B and suffering relegation in 2010.[2]
On 8 March 2010, as both right-backs in the first team, Bruno and Miguel, were unavailable, Johnson made his only La Liga appearance, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Racing de Santander.[3] [4] Released on 30 June 2012, he went on to compete solely in the lower leagues, first with Real Madrid C and then with Real Jaén, both in the third tier.[5] [6] [7]
After a season with CD Buñol in the Tercera División, Johnson signed with USL Championship side Charlotte Independence on 6 April 2016.[8] Six years later, he joined Hartford Athletic of the same country and league.[9]
Johnson received his first call for the Liberia national team on 31 August 2016,[10] being an unused substitute in the 4–1 away loss to Tunisia for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying phase the following week.[11] He only won his first cap on 9 September 2018, starting and playing 90 minutes in a 1–1 draw against DR Congo for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.[12]