Darnell Johnson

Darnell Tobias Jack Johnson (born 3 September 1998) is an English professional footballer who last played as a defender for Forest Green Rovers.

Darnell Johnson

Personal information
Full name	Darnell Tobias Jack Johnson[1]
Date of birth	(1998-09-03) 3 September 1998 (age 26)[2]
Place of birth	Leicester, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
	Leicester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2021	Leicester City	0	(0)
2019	→ Hibernian (loan)	1	(0)
2020–2021	→ Wigan Athletic (loan)	10	(0)
2021	→ AFC Wimbledon (loan)	11	(0)
2021–2023	Fleetwood Town	3	(1)
2023–2024	Forest Green Rovers	9	(0)
International career‡
2013–2014	England U16	2	(0)
2014	England U17	7	(0)
2015	England U18	2	(0)
2016–2017	England U19	6	(0)
2017–2018	England U20	4	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:09, 30 April 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:39, 25 January 2021 (UTC)

Club career

After featuring in friendly games ahead of the 2018–19 season, he signed a three-year contract with Leicester City in August 2018.^[3] He moved on loan to Scottish Premiership club Hibernian on 31 January 2019, for the rest of the 2018–19 season.^[4][5] Johnson made his first appearance for Hibernian in a 2–0 defeat against Celtic on 6 February.^[6] He was subsequently suspended for two matches for a challenge he made on Emilio Izaguirre during that match.^[6][7]

On 28 September 2020 he went to Wigan Athletic on loan until 4 January 2021.^[8]

After the end of his loan spell at Wigan, he went on loan to AFC Wimbledon from 25 January 2021 until the end of the season^[9]

In June 2021, it was announced that Johnson would be released from Leicester City upon expiry of his contract at the end of the season.^[10]

On 2 August 2021, Johnson signed for EFL League One club Fleetwood Town on a two-year contract.^[11] He was released from the club following the 2022–23 season.^[12]

On 4 August 2023, Johnson signed for Forest Green Rovers after impressing on a trial.^[13] He was released following relegation at the end of the 2023–24 season.^[14]

International career

In November 2013, Johnson was captain of the England under-16 team against Northern Ireland in the Victory Shield.^[15] Johnson was part of the England under-19 team that won the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship,^[3] playing the full game against Portugal in the final.^[16]

In August 2017, Johnson scored for the England under-20 team against the Netherlands.^[17]

Personal life

Johnson is the godson of former Leicester City and England player Emile Heskey.^[18]

Career statistics

As of end of 2023–24 season

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Leicester City U21s	2016–17 EFL Trophy[19]		—		—		—		1[a]	0	1	0
	2017–18 EFL Trophy[20]		—		—		—		1[a]	0	1	0
	2018–19 EFL Trophy[21]		—		—		—		3[a]	0	3	0
	2019–20 EFL Trophy[22]		—		—		—		6[a]	0	6	0
	Total		—		—		—		11	0	11	0
Leicester City	2017–18[20]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2018–19[21]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2019–20[22]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2020–21[23]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hibernian (loan)	2018–19[21]	Scottish Premiership	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Wigan Athletic (loan)	2020–21[23]	League One	10	0	0	0	0	0	1[a]	0	11	0
A.F.C. Wimbledon (loan)	2020–21[23]	League One	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
Fleetwood Town	2021–22[24]	League One	3	1	0	0	0	0	1[a]	0	4	1
Forest Green Rovers	2023–24[25]	League Two	9	0	2	0	1	0	2[a]	0	14	0
Career total			34	1	2	0	1	0	15	0	51	1

1. Appearances in the EFL Trophy

Honours

England U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2017^[16]

References

1. "Premier League clubs publish retained lists". Premier League. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
2. "Darnell Johnson". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
3. "Darnell Johnson Signs New Three-Year Contract" (Press release). Leicester City FC. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
4. "Hibernian sign Marc McNulty, Darnell Johnson and Gael Bigirimana". BBC Sport. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
5. Blackwell, Jordan (7 February 2019). "Leicester City's 'good project' continues as Knight and Johnson vie for first-team places". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
6. "Darnell Johnson: Hibernian defender faces ban for challenge on Celtic's Emilio Izaguirre". BBC Sport. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
7. Mullen, Scott (12 February 2019). "Darnell Johnson: Hibernian defender banned for two matches". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
8. "Darnell Johnson Signs New Three-Year Contract" (Press release). Leicester City FC. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
9. "AFC Wimbledon loan for Darnell Johnson". Leicester City FC. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
10. Blackwell, Jordan (4 June 2021). "Leicester City retained list published as nine players released and contracts offered". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
11. "Darnell Johnson joins Cod Army". Fleetwood Town. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
12. "Retained list: first team". Fleetwood Town FC. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
13. "Forest Green sign Johnson and Kadji". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
14. "Retained and Released List 2024". www.fgr.co.uk. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
15. "Northern Ireland edge Victory Shield game in Bournemouth". The Football Association. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
16. "European Under-19 Championship: England beat Portugal in final". BBC Sport. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
17. "Young Lions kick-off new campaign with clinical victory against the Dutch in Telford". The Football Association. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
18. "Darnell Johnson hopes to follow Godfather Emile Heskey's example at Hibs". BT Sport. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
19. "Games played by Darnell Johnson in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
20. "Games played by Darnell Johnson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
21. "Games played by Darnell Johnson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
22. "Games played by Darnell Johnson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
23. "Games played by Darnell Johnson in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
24. "Games played by Darnell Johnson in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
25. "Games played by Darnell Johnson in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2024.