:Ryan Johnson (footballer, born 1996)
{{short description|Footballer (born 1996)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ryan Johnson
| image = File:Ryan Johnson 15022025 (1).jpg
| caption = Ryan Johnson in 2025.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|10|2|df=y}}{{cite web
| title = Ryan Johnson
| url = http://www.11v11.com/players/ryan-johnson-241552/
| publisher = 11v11
| access-date =7 July 2016}}
| birth_place = Birmingham, England{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Matty |title=Ryan Johnson leaves Hartlepool United for League Two side |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/19399125.ryan-johnson-left-hartlepool-united-join-port-vale/ |access-date=4 July 2021 |work=The Northern Echo |date=27 June 2021 |language=en}}
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=2}}
| position = Defender
| currentclub = AFC Wimbledon
| clubnumber = 6
| youthyears1 = 2006–2013
| youthclubs1 = West Bromwich Albion
| youthyears2 = 2013–2014
| youthclubs2 = Stevenage
| years1 = 2014–2019
| clubs1 = Stevenage
| caps1 = 13
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2014
| clubs2 = → Boreham Wood (loan)
| caps2 = 1
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2016
| clubs3 = → St Albans City (loan)
| caps3 = 12
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2017–2018
| clubs4 = → Boreham Wood (loan)
| caps4 = 2
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2018
| clubs5 = → Nuneaton Town (loan)
| caps5 = 19
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2018–2019
| clubs6 = → Kidderminster Harriers (loan)
| caps6 = 19
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2019–2020
| clubs7 = Kidderminster Harriers
| caps7 = 44
| goals7 = 2
| years8 = 2020
| clubs8 = Rushall Olympic
| caps8 = 1
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2020–2021
| clubs9 = Hartlepool United
| caps9 = 33
| goals9 = 5
| years10 = 2021–2022
| clubs10 = Port Vale
| caps10 = 4
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2022–2023
| clubs11 = Stockport County
| caps11 = 49
| goals11 = 3
| years12 = 2023–
| clubs12 = AFC Wimbledon
| caps12 = 71
| goals12 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2015–2018
| nationalteam1 = Northern Ireland U21
| nationalcaps1 = 14
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| club-update = 09:05, 15 May 2025 (UTC)
}}
Ryan Anthony Johnson (born 2 October 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for {{English football updater|AFCWimbl}} club AFC Wimbledon. He has also represented Northern Ireland at under-21 level.
Johnson began his career in the youth academy at West Bromwich Albion before joining Stevenage of League One in 2013. He made his first-team debut in May 2014 and became the club's youngest player in the English Football League. Johnson had two loan spells in non-League at Boreham Wood, as well as spending time on loan at St Albans City, Nuneaton Town and Kidderminster Harriers.
He signed for Kidderminster permanently in January 2019 and spent a year-and-a-half playing regularly in the National League North. After playing one match for Rushall Olympic, Johnson signed for Hartlepool United in September 2020. He helped the club earn promotion back into the Football League during the 2020–21 season. Johnson signed for League Two club Port Vale in June 2021 before joining Stockport County in January 2022 for an undisclosed fee. Stockport won promotion as champions of the National League at the end of the 2021–22 season. He signed for AFC Wimbledon in June 2023.
Club career
=Stevenage=
Johnson started his career in the youth academy at West Bromwich Albion, where he spent seven years as a schoolboy.{{Cite news| title = Former West Brom starlet reveals why he quit Hawthorns to pursue career at Stevenage after making club history| url = http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/Sport/Sport-headlines/Former-West-Brom-starlet-reveals-why-he-quit-Hawthorns-to-pursue-career-at-Stevenage-after-making-club-history-20140504073342.htm|work=Hertfordshire Mercury| date = 4 May 2014| access-date = 31 May 2014}} He was offered a scholarship by West Bromwich in the summer of 2013. However, he left and joined Stevenage, where he felt he had a better chance of playing first-team football. Johnson trained regularly with the first team alongside starting a two-year scholarship.{{Cite news| title = Boss Graham Westley won't splash the cash as he targets Sky Bet League Two promotion charge for Stevenage FC next season| url = http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/Sport/Sport-headlines/Boss-Graham-Westley-wont-splash-the-cash-as-he-targets-Sky-Bet-League-Two-promotion-charge-for-Stevenage-FC-next-season-20140519110402.htm|work=Hertfordshire Mercury| date = 19 May 2014| access-date = 31 May 2014}} Johnson made his professional debut on the final day of the 2013–14 season, on 3 May 2014, in a 2–0 away defeat to Brentford.{{cite news| title = Brentford 2–0 Stevenage| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27167766| website = BBC Sport | date = 3 May 2014| access-date = 8 February 2018}} In doing so, he became Stevenage's youngest debutant in the Football League at the age of 17 years and 215 days,{{cite news |title=Ryan Johnson to Join The Valiants |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2021/june/ryan-johnson-to-join-the-valiants/ |access-date=30 June 2021 |publisher=Port Vale F.C. |date=27 June 2021 |language=en-gb}}{{cite news |last1=Whitney |first1=Steve |title=Maamria Returns To Stevenage For A Second Loanee – The Vanarama National League |url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/maamria-returns-to-stevenage-for-a-second-loanee-44581 |access-date=6 September 2021 |work=www.thenationalleague.org.uk |date=5 January 2018 |language=en}} a record that was broken by Liam Smyth (17 years and 37 days) in October 2018.{{cite news
| title = BoroGuide – Player Records
| url = https://www.boroguide.co.uk/records/players/
| website = BoroGuide
| access-date = 5 September 2021}}
==Loan spells==
He played a peripheral role during the 2014–15 season, making all four of his appearances for Stevenage in the opening two months of the season.{{soccerbase season|73680|2014|access-date=31 May 2014}} This included receiving a red card for two bookable offences within the space of six minutes in a 2–1 away defeat to Bury on 16 September 2014.{{cite news| title = Bury 2–1 Stevenage| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29121365| website = BBC Sport | date = 16 September 2014| access-date = 8 February 2018}} A month later, on 24 October 2014, Johnson joined the Conference South club Boreham Wood on a one-month loan deal in order to "gain valuable first-team experience".{{cite news| title = Ryan Johnson joins Boreham Wood on loan| url = https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2014/october/ryan-johnson-joins-boreham-wood-on-loan/| publisher = Stevenage F.C.| date = 24 October 2014| access-date = 8 February 2018}} He made one appearance during the brief spell, as a 90th-minute substitute in Boreham Wood's 2–1 win over Maidenhead United on 10 November 2014.{{cite news| title = Boreham Wood 2–1 Maidenhead United| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2014/11/10/england/conference-n--s/boreham-wood-fc/maidenhead-united-fc/1753587/| publisher = Soccerway | date = 10 November 2014| access-date = 8 February 2018}} He returned to Stevenage later that month and went on to appear for the club's development squad for the remainder of the season.{{cite news| title = Soccerway – Ryan Johnson| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/players/ryan-johnson/322647/| publisher = Soccerway | access-date = 8 February 2018}} The 2015–16 season followed a similar course with Johnson appearing regularly in the match-day squad, but often as an unused substitute, as he made seven appearances for the club during the season.{{soccerbase season|73680|2015|access-date=31 May 2014}}
Ahead of the 2016–17 season, Johnson was loaned to the National League South club St Albans City with teammate Dipo Akinyemi until January 2017.{{cite news
| title = Duo join St Albans on loan| url = https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2016/august/duo-join-st-albans-city-on-loan/| publisher = Stevenage F.C.| date = 1 August 2016| access-date = 8 February 2018}} The loan move came about after Johnson had spoken to the Stevenage manager Darren Sarll and informed him he wanted game-time.{{cite news| title = Ryan Johnson thanks St Albans City for everything they did for him but is ready to push on with Stevenage| url = http://www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/st-albans-city/ryan-johnson-thanks-st-albans-city-for-everything-they-did-for-him-but-is-ready-to-push-on-with-stevenage-1-4863555| work = Hertfordshire Advertiser| date = 27 January 2017| access-date = 8 February 2018| archive-date = 9 February 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063601/http://www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/st-albans-city/ryan-johnson-thanks-st-albans-city-for-everything-they-did-for-him-but-is-ready-to-push-on-with-stevenage-1-4863555| url-status = dead}} He made his debut on the opening day of the new season, playing the whole match as St Albans secured a 2–0 home win over Concord Rangers at Clarence Park.{{cite news| title = St Albans City 2–0 Concord Rangers| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2016/08/06/england/conference-n--s/st-albans-city-fc/concord-rangers-fc/2264291/| publisher = Soccerway| date = 6 August 2016| access-date = 8 February 2018}} Johnson scored his first competitive goal in St Albans' 2–1 victory over Chelmsford City on 16 August 2016, scoring with a header from a corner kick.{{cite news| title = St Albans City 2–1 Chelmsford City| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2016/08/16/england/conference-n--s/st-albans-city-fc/chelmsford-city-fc/2264324/| publisher = Soccerway| date = 16 August 2016| access-date = 8 February 2018}}
- {{cite news| title = St Albans City v Chelmsford City
| url = https://www.stalbanscityfc.com/event/st-albans-city-v-chelmsford-city-16082016/| publisher = St Albans City F.C.| date = 17 August 2016| access-date = 8 February 2018}} He suffered a knee injury while on international duty with the Northern Ireland under-21 team in September 2016 and was ruled out of action for two months, returning to the St Albans first-team at the start of December 2016.{{cite news| title = Ryan Johnson's return from injury a boost for St Albans City and Stevenage| url = http://www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/st-albans-city/ryan-johnson-s-return-from-injury-a-boost-for-st-albans-city-and-stevenage-1-4809481|work=Hertfordshire Advertiser| date = 8 December 2016| access-date = 8 February 2018}} Johnson was recalled by Stevenage at the end of the month,{{cite news
| title = St Albans City – Ryan Johnson| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2016/12/10/england/conference-n--s/margate-fc/st-albans-city-fc/2264468/| publisher = St Albans City F.C.| access-date = 8 February 2018}} a month earlier than the initial agreement. He made 12 appearances during the spell, scoring twice. Despite returning to Stevenage earlier than planned, Johnson did not play for the first team during the second half of the season. In April 2017, he spent a week on trial at the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, playing 77 minutes in the development team's 4–1 defeat to Everton under-23s.{{cite news| title = Stevenage defender enjoys week with Tottenham Hotspur| url = http://www.thecomet.net/stevenage-fc/stevenage-defender-enjoys-week-with-tottenham-hotspur-1-4975166| website = The Comet| date = 13 April 2017| access-date = 8 February 2018| archive-date = 9 February 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063902/http://www.thecomet.net/stevenage-fc/stevenage-defender-enjoys-week-with-tottenham-hotspur-1-4975166| url-status = dead}}
- {{cite news| title = Everton U23 4–1 Tottenham Hotspur U23| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2017/04/10/england/premier-league-2-division-one/everton-u23/tottenham-hotspur-u23/2300232/| publisher = Soccerway| date = 10 April 2017| access-date = 8 February 2018}} No move materialised, and at the end of the month he went on a week-long trial at Norwich City,{{cite news| title = Flown from the nest – Ryan Johnson| url = http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/johnson-ryan.htm|website=Flown From The Nest| access-date = 8 February 2018}} playing the whole match in a 0–0 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion under-23s.{{cite news| title = Norwich City U23s 0 Brighton U23s 0 – Stevenage defender features as young Canaries warm up for semi-final| url = http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/norwich-city-u23s-0-brighton-u23s-0-stevenage-defender-features-as-young-canaries-warm-up-for-semi-final-1-4988743|work=Eastern Daily Press| date = 24 April 2017| access-date = 8 February 2018}}
- {{cite news| title = Norwich City U23 0–0 Brighton & Hove Albion U23| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2017/04/24/england/premier-league-2-division-two/norwich-city-u23/brighton-u23/2300384/| publisher = Soccerway | date = 24 April 2017| access-date = 8 February 2018}}
Despite reported interest from Premier League and Championship clubs,{{cite news| title = Tottenham keeping tabs on Stevenage defender Ryan Johnson after successful stint at Hostpur Way| url = https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tottenham-keeping-tabs-on-stevenage-defender-ryan-johnson-after-successful-stint-at-hostpur-way-a3513726.html|work=The Evening Standard| date = 12 April 2017| access-date = 8 February 2018}} Johnson remained at Stevenage and in July 2017, before the 2017–18 season, he rejoined Boreham Wood on a season-long loan agreement.{{cite news| title = Ryan Johnson: Boreham Wood sign Stevenage defender on loan| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40608068| website = BBC Sport | date = 14 August 2017| access-date = 8 February 2018}} After two starting appearances in Boreham Wood's opening three games,{{soccerbase season|73680|2017|access-date=8 September 2017}} Johnson did not appear again and the loan deal was cut short in December 2017. Johnson was loaned once again on 5 January 2018, this time joining the National League North club Nuneaton Town for the remainder of the season. The move meant he was going to be playing under the manager Dino Maamria, who had previously coached him during his early years at Stevenage.{{cite news| title = Ryan Johnson joins Nuneaton Town| url = https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2018/january/stevenage-fc-loan-transfer-ryan-johnson-nuneaton-town/| publisher = Stevenage F.C.| date = 5 January 2018| access-date = 8 February 2018}}
- {{cite news| title = Stevenage FC youngster had no doubts about Boro deal| url = https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/stevenage-fc-youngster-no-doubts-14190623|work=Coventry Telegraph| date = 23 January 2018| access-date = 8 February 2018}} Johnson made his Nuneaton debut in a 2–0 loss to Brackley Town on 6 January 2018.{{cite news| title = Nuneaton Town 0–2 Brackley Town| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2018/01/06/england/conference-n--s/nuneaton-town-fc/brackley-town-fc/2495839/| publisher = Soccerway | date = 6 January 2018| access-date = 8 February 2018}} He was a mainstay in the centre of defence during his time at Nuneaton, making 19 appearances.
=Kidderminster=
Johnson was loaned out for a fifth time in June 2018, joining National League North club Kidderminster Harriers on a six-month loan agreement.{{cite news
| title = Kidderminster Harriers – Ryan Johnson
| url = https://harriers.co.uk/teams/first-team/ryan-johnson/
| publisher = Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
| access-date = 27 June 2021}} He made his Kidderminster debut on the opening day of the 2018–19 season, playing the whole match in a 3–3 draw away at Alfreton Town.{{cite news
| title = Alfreton Town 3–3 Kidderminster Harriers
| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2018/08/04/england/conference-n--s/alfreton-town-fc/kidderminster-harriers-fc/2819925/
| publisher = Soccerway
| date = 4 August 2018
| access-date = 27 June 2021}} Having made 19 league appearances during his time at Kidderminster, Johnson signed for the club permanently on 4 January 2019. He joined Kidderminster for an undisclosed fee and on an 18-month contract, with Stevenage including a "significant sell-on fee" as part of the deal.{{cite news
| title = Johnson completes permanent move away
| url = https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2019/january/ryan-johnson-signs-transfer-deal-kidderminster-harriers-sky-bet-league-two-efl-4th-january-2019/
| publisher = Stevenage F.C.
| date = 4 January 2019
| access-date = 27 June 2021}} Johnson scored his first goal for the club on 9 February 2019, scoring Kidderminster's third goal in an eventual 4–1 victory against Chester.{{cite news
| title = Kidderminster Harriers 4–1 Chester
| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2019/02/09/england/conference-n--s/kidderminster-harriers-fc/chester-fc/2820248/
| publisher = Soccerway
| date = 9 February 2019
| access-date = 27 June 2021}} He made 36 appearances in his maiden season at Kidderminster, scoring once, as they finished in 10th place in National League North.{{cite news
| title = National League North – 2018–19 – League Table
| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/conference-n--s/20182019/north/r47691/
| publisher = Soccerway
| access-date = 27 June 2021}} Johnson played 30 times during the 2019–20 season, scoring one goal, in a season that was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
=Hartlepool United=
Without a club at the start of the 2020–21 season, Johnson began the season playing on non-contract terms at Southern League Premier Division Central club Rushall Olympic.{{cite news
| title = Aylesbury United – Ryan Johnson
| url = http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/hartlepool-united/ryan-johnson/19474/#playingcareer
| publisher = Aylesbury United F.C.
| access-date = 27 June 2021}} He played one match, a 1–0 victory away at Leiston on 19 September 2020. Several days later, Johnson went on a one-week trial with National League club Hartlepool United, playing in a friendly match against Darlington.{{cite news
| title = Pools sign Ryan Johnson
| url = https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/pools-sign-ryan-johnson/
| publisher = Hartlepool United F.C.
| date = 29 September 2020
| access-date = 27 June 2021
}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He subsequently signed for the club on a short-term contract on 29 September 2020. He made his debut in the club's 2–1 victory against Chesterfield on 6 October 2020, coming on as a first-half substitute and scoring the winning goal.{{soccerbase season|73680|2020|access-date=27 June 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/story-night-chesterfield-1-2-hartlepool-united-debut-goal-ryan-johnson-sees-pools-continue-perfect-start-season-2994738 |title=Story of the night: Chesterfield 1–2 Hartlepool United – debut goal from Ryan Johnson sees Pools continue perfect start to the season |author=Dominic Scurr |work=Hartlepool Mail |date=7 October 2020 |access-date=6 June 2021}} After scoring twice in his first four appearances at Hartlepool, his contract was extended on 30 October 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/ryan-johnson-extends-his-contract/ |title=Ryan Johnson extends contract |publisher=Hartlepool United F.C. |date=30 October 2020 |access-date=30 October 2020 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101052636/https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/ryan-johnson-extends-his-contract/ |url-status=dead }} Johnson signed a further contract extension on 22 January 2021, with the new agreement running for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/johnson-extends-contract/ |title=Johnson extends contract |publisher=Hartlepool United F.C.|date=22 January 2021 |access-date=23 January 2021}} Johnson made 39 appearances during the season, scoring five times. This included three appearances in the National League play-offs that season, as Hartlepool earned promotion back into the Football League after beating Torquay United on penalties in the 2021 National League play-off final. He left Hartlepool at the end of the season, with the club stating they could not match the offer Johnson received at his new club.{{cite news |title=Retained list- 2021/2022 season |url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/retained-list-2021-2022-season/ |access-date=1 July 2021 |work=Hartlepool United Football Club |date=27 June 2021 |archive-date=29 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629062023/https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/retained-list-2021-2022-season/ |url-status=dead }}
=Port Vale=
Out of contract upon the conclusion of the promotion-winning season at Hartlepool, Johnson signed for fellow League Two club Port Vale on a two-year contract on 27 June 2021.{{cite news
| title = Ryan Johnson: Port Vale sign Hartlepool defender on two-year deal
| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57631092
| website = BBC Sport
| date = 27 June 2021
| access-date = 27 June 2021}} Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke said that "Ryan is a powerful left footed centre-half and at 24 is still a very good age in terms of development". Johnson found first-team opportunities limited in the first half of the 2021–22 season,{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title='Ready' – Ryan Johnson's message as he gets Port Vale chance |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/port-vale-ryan-johnson-rotherham-6276815 |access-date=29 November 2021 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=29 November 2021 |language=en}} starting three league matches and making eight appearances in all competitions during his time there.
=Stockport County=
Johnson joined National League club Stockport County for an undisclosed fee on 6 January 2022, having previously played under Dave Challinor at Hartlepool; Port Vale director of football David Flitcroft stated that add-on fee clauses had been included in the transfer.{{Cite web |url=https://www.stockportcounty.com/johnson-signs-on/ |title=Johnson signs on |publisher=Stockport County F.C. |date=6 January 2022 |accessdate=6 January 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Port Vale and the Devante Rodney and Ryan Johnson transfer clauses |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/port-vale-ryan-johnson-rodney-6609914 |access-date=7 February 2022 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=5 February 2022 |language=en}} He made his debut for Stockport five days later in a 4–1 victory at Altrincham.{{cite news |title=Altrincham 1-4 Stockport County |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59798481 |access-date=15 February 2022 |website=BBC Sport |date=11 January 2022}} Johnson scored his first goal for the club on 15 January 2022, in a 3–0 victory against Larkhall Athletic in an FA Trophy fixture at Edgeley Park.{{cite news |title=FA Trophy Match Report: County 3-0 Larkhall Athletic |url=https://www.stockportcounty.com/fa-trophy-match-report-county-3-0-larkhall-athletic/ |access-date=15 February 2022 |publisher=Stockport County F.C. |date=15 January 2022}} He made 23 appearances in the second half of the 2021–22 season as Stockport returned to the Football League as champions of the National League.{{cite news |title=Stockport County crowned champions and seal return to Football League |url=https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2022-05-16/stockport-county-crowned-champions-and-seal-return-to-football-league |access-date=26 May 2022 |website=ITV News |date=16 May 2022 |language=en}} He played 33 times during the 2022–23 season, though did not feature in the play-offs. Following play-off final defeat, he was released by the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.stockportcounty.com/released-and-retained-list-confirmed/|title=Released and retained list confirmed|publisher=Stockport County F.C.|website=www.stockportcounty.com|date=26 June 2023|accessdate=27 June 2023}}
=AFC Wimbledon=
File:Cole Stockton and Ryan Johnson 15022025 (3).jpg
Johnson joined fellow League Two club AFC Wimbledon on a two-year contract on 26 June 2023, with the head of football operations Craig Cope describing him as "a real physical presence at the back".{{cite web|url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2023/june/signing-six-experienced-centre-back-joins/|title=Signing six: Experienced centre-back joins|website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk|date=26 June 2023|accessdate=27 June 2023}}{{cite news |title=AFC Wimbledon sign Johnson after Stockport exit |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66024720 |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=BBC Sport |date=26 June 2023}} He scored his first goal for Wimbledon with a header in a 3–0 win at Sutton United on 19 August.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66482550|title=Sutton 0-3 Wimbledon|publisher=BBC|date=19 August 2023 |access-date=25 September 2023}} He said he had a "dream start" to the 2023–24 season as he formed a partnership alongside Stockport County loanee Joe Lewis.{{cite news |title=Ryan Johnson on 'dream start' at AFC Wimbledon and partnership alongside Stockport loanee Joe Lewis |url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/ryan-johnson-on-dream-start-at-afc-wimbledon-and-partnership-alongside-stockport-loanee-joe-lewis/ |access-date=12 May 2024 |work=South London News |date=25 August 2023}} He missed two months towards the end of the campaign with an ankle injury.{{cite news |last1=Cornell |first1=Rob |title="I'm going back there to win" |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2024/march/ryans-return-as-centre-back-comes-through-good-friday-clash/ |access-date=12 May 2024 |work=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk |date=30 March 2024 |language=en-gb}}
Johnson was appointed as a vice-captain in July 2024.{{cite news |title=Ryan named as vice-captain |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2024/july/23/ryan-named-as-vice-captain/ |access-date=15 May 2025 |work=AFC Wimbledon |date=23 July 24}} He missed a month at the start of the 2024–25 season due to injury, though played as captain upon returning to fitness.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=Striving for more as Wimbledon await |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/striving-for-more-as-wimbledon-await |access-date=25 October 2024 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=24 October 2024}} On 16 November, he made 12 clearances, five tackles and three interceptions, and won six aerial duels to help his side to a 3–1 win at Barrow.{{cite news |title=Five of WhoScored's top performers in Sky Bet League Two |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2024/november/17/five-of-whoscored-s-top-performers-in-sky-bet-league-two/ |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=EFL |date=17 November 2024 |language=en}} He was nominated for the February PFA League Two Fans' Player of the Month award as the club conceded just one goal in their six games, with Johnson playing every minute.{{cite news |title=Ryan nominated for PFA award |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2025/march/05/ryan-nominated-for-pfa-award/ |access-date=15 May 2025 |work=AFC Wimbledon |date=5 March 25}} He was named in WhoScored's League Two play-off Combined XI after a soldi performance in the semi-final first leg win at Notts County.{{cite news |title=WhoScored's Sky Bet League Two Play-Off Combined XI |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2025/may/09/whoscored-s-sky-bet-league-two-play-off-combined-xi/ |access-date=15 May 2025 |work=EFL |date=9 May 2025 |language=en}}
International career
Johnson was first called up to represent Northern Ireland at under-21 level in September 2015, when he played the whole match in a 2–1 loss to Scotland under-21s in a 2017 UEFA European under-21 Championship qualifier.{{cite news| title = Northern Ireland U21 1–2 Scotland U21| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2015/09/05/europe/uefa-u21-championship/northern-ireland-u21/scotland-under-21/2021341/ | publisher = Soccerway | date = 5 September 2015| access-date = 8 February 2018}} Three days later, on 8 September 2015, he scored his first international goal in a 1–1 away draw with Iceland under-21s in Reykjavík.{{cite news| title = Iceland U21 1–1 Northern Ireland U21| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2015/09/08/europe/uefa-u21-championship/iceland-under-21/northern-ireland-u21/2021342/| publisher = Soccerway | date = 8 September 2015| access-date = 8 February 2018}} He went on to make four appearances, scoring once, as Northern Ireland finished bottom of the qualification group.{{cite news| title = NIFG – Ryan Johnson| url = http://nifootball.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/name-ryan-johnson-born-2-october-1996.html| publisher = NIFG| access-date = 8 February 2018}} He remained a mainstay in the centre of defence for the under-21 team for their 2019 UEFA European under-21 Championship qualifiers.
Style of play
Johnson is left-footed. He has been deployed at left-back and centre-back throughout his career. He prefers to play as a centre-back. Described as a "ball-playing defender" during his time at Hartlepool, he was utilised as the left-sided centre-back of a three-man central defence during the 2020–21 season.{{cite news
| title = Ryan Johnson has left Hartlepool United to join Port Vale
| url = https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/19399125.ryan-johnson-left-hartlepool-united-join-port-vale/
| newspaper = The Northern Echo
| date = 27 June 2021
| access-date = 27 June 2021}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 10 May 2025}}
{{notelist}}
Honours
Hartlepool United
- National League play-offs: 2021{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57457835 |title=Hartlepool United 1–1 Torquay United |first=Brent |last=Pilnick |website=BBC Sport |date=20 June 2021 |access-date=20 June 2021}}
Stockport County
- National League: 2021–22{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1852 |title=National League: 2021/22: Current table |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=15 May 2022}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2473&teamTabs=stats&season_id=154 |title=Stockport: Squad details: 2021/22 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=15 May 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{AFC Wimbledon squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Ryan}}
Category:Footballers from Birmingham, West Midlands
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland
Category:Northern Ireland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Stevenage F.C. players
Category:Boreham Wood F.C. players
Category:St Albans City F.C. players
Category:Nuneaton Town F.C. players
Category:Kidderminster Harriers F.C. players
Category:Rushall Olympic F.C. players
Category:Hartlepool United F.C. players
Category:Port Vale F.C. players
Category:Stockport County F.C. players
Category:AFC Wimbledon players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players