Aron Johannsson is one of the best forwards regularly featuring on the U.S. men’s national team, and despite his comfortability in Europe at the moment, he’s revealed that he would entertain a move to MLS.
MLS has gained a reputation for bringing in marquee players at older ages, but if Johannsson was to suddenly burst onto the national spotlight, he admitted that he would journey to America at that juncture.
This season, the Icelandic-American started 17 league games for Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, Jozy Altidore’s prior squad, and bagged nine goals while adding three assists.
[RELATED: NYCFC falls to NYRB, 3-1 | Timbers trounce Sounders]
His production dropped off from the previous year, though, when he enjoyed better health and started 31 league competitions to notch 17 goals.
Tallying his first goal in a World Cup qualifier against Panama in October 2013, the 24-year-old was on Jurgen Klinsmann’s radar and made the final 23-man World Cup roster in place of Rapid Vienna’s Terrence Boyd.
From ESPN FC:“Most definitely,” Johannsson, who has spent his career in Europe, said when asked if he sees himself making an eventual move to Major League Soccer. “I’ve said it a lot of times. I hope just the opportunity comes.
“I want to, when I’m at the peak of my career, then I want to be playing in the MLS, because I don’t want to go there when I’m getting too old and the expectations are too much and I can’t handle it.
“So when I’m playing at my best level, I want to be able to play in the U.S. and show people how good I am over there.”This thought process is interesting from a footballer like Johansson, who definitely has some room to grow and is likely years away from his prime. However, his desires provide little support to the notion that big-name European stars would love heading across the pond--not quite yet.