Zak Johnson
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Zak Johnson
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Zak Robert Johnson.{{cite web |title=EFL - Squad List 2024/25 |url=https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gc-media-assets.gc.eflservices.co.uk/9b015b30-e880-11ef-8abf-f91ad331f5ec.pdf |website=English Football League |access-date=13 February 2025}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2004|07|30|df=y}}.
| birth_place = Sunderland, England
| height =
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = Notts County
(on loan from Sunderland)
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2020–2022| youthclubs1 = Sunderland
| years1 = 2021–
| clubs1 = Sunderland
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2023–2024
| clubs2 = → Hartlepool United (loan)
| caps2 = 11
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2023–2024
| clubs3 = → Dundalk (loan)
| caps3 = 18
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2025–
| clubs4 = → Notts County (loan)
| caps4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2023
| nationalteam1 = England U18
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 18:38, 24 June 2024 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 09:00, 23 September 2023 (UTC)
}}
Zak Robert Johnson (born 30 July 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Notts County, on loan from {{English football updater|Sunderld}} side Sunderland.
Club career
Johnson began his playing career at his hometown club Sunderland and made his first appearance in the EFL Trophy on 13 October 2021 coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 victory against Manchester United U21s. At 16 years and 141 days old, this appearance made Zak the youngest outfield player to play for Sunderland in almost 50 years.{{cite web |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-youngster-who-broke-50-25477859 |title=Sunderland youngster who broke 50-year-old outfield record out for more honours |publisher=Chronicle Live |date=10 November 2022 |access-date=23 September 2023}}
On 1 July 2022, it was announced Johnson had signed his first professional contract with Sunderland on a deal lasting until 2025.{{cite web |url=https://safc.com/news/academy-news/2022/july/trio-sign-first-professional-contracts |title=Trio sign first professional contracts |publisher=Sunderland AFC |date=1 July 2022 |access-date=23 September 2023}}
On 8 August 2023, Johnson made his first start for Sunderland in an EFL Cup defeat against Crewe Alexandra. A month later, he signed a new deal until 2026.{{cite web |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/zak-johnson-sunderland-contract-extension-27654732 |title=Zak Johnson 'delighted' to sign new Sunderland deal |publisher=Chronicle Live |date=5 September 2023 |access-date=23 September 2023}}
Johnson moved to National League side Hartlepool United in September 2023 on a one-month loan deal.{{cite web |url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/2023/september/zak-johnson-signs-for-pools/ |title=Zak Johnson signs for Pools |publisher=Hartlepool United |date=22 September 2023 |access-date=23 September 2023}} On 26 October, this loan deal was extended until January 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/2023/october/zak-johnson-loan-extended/ |title=Zak Johnson loan extended |publisher=Hartlepool United |date=26 October 2023 |access-date=26 October 2023}} On 5 January 2024, it was announced that Johnson's loan spell with Hartlepool had ended.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/2024/january/loan-player-movements/ |title=Loan player movements |website=Hartlepool United FC |date=5 January 2024 |access-date=5 January 2024}}
On 14 February 2024, Johnson signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Dundalk on loan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dundalkfc.com/loan-signing-zak-johnson/|title=LOAN SIGNING: ZAK JOHNSON|first=Gavin|last=McLaughlin|date=14 February 2024|website=Dundalk Football Club}} Johnson won the Supporters' Club Player of the Month for March 2024. He returned to Sunderland in June 2024. Johnson said of his loan spell: "I have loved every minute of my time here. The lessons in maturity and self-development have been so valuable, they will stay with me for the rest of my life."{{cite web |url=https://safc.com/news/academy-news/2024/june/zak-johnson-loan-watch |title=Loan watch: Zak Johnson's success story at Dundalk |publisher=Sunderland AFC |date=24 June 2024 |accessdate=24 June 2024}}
On 13 January 2025, Johnson signed for League Two side Notts County on loan until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2025/january/13/signing--zak-johnson/|title=LOAN: ZAK JOHNSON|publisher=Notts County F.C.|date=14 January 2025|accessdate=15 January 2025}}
International career
In June 2023, Johnson received a call-up to the England U18s squad for an upcoming trip to Portugal.{{cite web |url=https://safc.com/news/academy-news/2023/june/zak-johnson-called-up-to-england-u18s |title= Zak Johnson receives England call-up |publisher=Sunderland AFC |date=5 June 2023 |access-date=23 September 2023}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 11 January 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Sunderland
|2021–22{{soccerbase season|145321|2021|access-date=26 October 2023}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|145321|2022|access-date=26 October 2023}}
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|145321|2023|access-date=26 October 2023}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2024–25{{soccerbase season|145321|2024|access-date=26 July 2024}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Hartlepool United (loan)
|2023–24{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/-/670276/ |title=Z.Johnson summary |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=26 October 2023}} |11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Dundalk (loan)
|2024 |18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase|145321|Zak Johnson}}
- {{Soccerway|670276}}
{{Notts County F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Zak}}
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Sunderland
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players
Category:Hartlepool United F.C. players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Expatriate men's association footballers in the Republic of Ireland