Tate Johnson

Tate Johnson
Johnson in 2026
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-07-10) July 10, 2005 (age 21)
Place of birth Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Number 28
Youth career
Indiana Fire Academy
Tampa Bay United
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024 North Carolina Tar Heels 17 (1)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Tampa Bay United 2 (0)
2022–2023 Tampa Bay Rowdies 7 (0)
2023 Crown Legacy FC 10 (0)
2024 Tampa Bay United 6 (0)
2025– Vancouver Whitecaps FC 57 (1)
International career‡
2025 United States U20 2 (0)
2026– United States U21 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of October 21, 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of October 21, 2026

Tate Johnson (born July 10, 2005) is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Early life

Johnson played youth soccer with the Indiana Fire Academy,[citation needed] before moving to Florida to play with Tampa Bay United.

College career

In 2024, Johnson began attending the University of North Carolina, where he played for the men's soccer team. He made his debut on August 22 against the UAB Blazers. On October 8, 2024, he scored his first collegiate goal in a match against the Charleston Cougars. At the end of the season, he was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team.

Club career

In 2021 and 2022, Johnson played with Tampa Bay United in USL League Two.

In April 2022, Johnson signed a USL Academy contract with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship to enable him to play for the first team at the professional level. He made his debut on April 5, 2022, in a U.S. Open Cup match against The Villages SC. In February 2023, he signed another USL Academy contract with the Rowdies.

Later in 2023, he moved to Crown Legacy FC in MLS Next Pro.[citation needed]

In 2024, he once again played with Tampa Bay United in USL League Two.

Ahead of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, Johnson signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer. He was then selected the first round (15th overall) by Vancouver Whitecaps FC. On March 5, 2025, he made his debut for the club in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup against Mexican side CF Monterrey. On March 8, 2025, he scored his first goal in his MLS debut, in a victory over CF Montréal. Due to Sam Adekugbe's season-ending injury, Johnson made 29 of 34 appearances at left back for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the regular season, as they lost to Inter Miami CF in the MLS Cup 2025.

On August 28, 2026, Johnson signed an extension through the 2029–30 Major League Soccer season, with a club option for the 2030–31 season.

Personal life

Johnson is the son of former professional soccer player Brian Johnson.

Career statistics

As of match played October 17, 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tampa Bay United 2021 USL League Two 1000———10
2022 USL League Two 10————10
Total 2000———20
Tampa Bay Rowdies 2022 USL Championship 300010——40
2023 USL Championship 400020——60
Total 700030——100
Crown Legacy FC 2023 MLS Next Pro 10000———100
Tampa Bay United 2024 USL League Two 60————60
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2025 Major League Soccer 29130406000421
2026 Major League Soccer 28000404020380
Total 57130804080801
Career total 8213011040801081
  1. ↑ Includes U.S. Open Cup, Canadian Championship
  2. ↑ Appearances in MLS Cup playoffs
  3. 1 2 Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup
  4. ↑ Appearances in Leagues Cup

References

  1. ↑ Murray, Nicholas (April 3, 2023). "How Tampa Bay's Tate Johnson is highlighting the USL Academy pathway". USL Championship.
  2. ↑ "Tate Johnson North Carolina profile". North Carolina Tar Heels.
  3. ↑ "Vician's Penalty Kick Lifts Men's Soccer Over UAB". North Carolina Tar Heels. August 22, 2024.
  4. ↑ Shoemaker, Cade (October 9, 2024). "Tate Johnson's first career goal lights spark in UNC men's soccer's 3-0 win over CofC". The Daily Tar Heel.
  5. ↑ "Four Tar Heels Earn All-ACC Recognition". North Carolina Tar Heels. November 13, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Tate Johnson 2021 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
  7. 1 2 "Tate Johnson 2022 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
  8. ↑ "Rowdies Sign Castaneda, Johnson to USL Academy Contracts". Tampa Bay Rowdies. April 4, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Rowdies Topple The Villages in Open Cup". Tampa Bay Rowdies. April 6, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Johnson, Castaneda Sign New Academy Contracts". Tampa Bay Rowdies. February 10, 2023.
  11. ↑ Fu, Zeno (March 21, 2023). "Teen prospect Johnson has big soccer ambitions". Toronto Observer.
  12. 1 2 https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/statistics
  13. 1 2 "2025 Generation adidas class announced". Major League Soccer. December 18, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Whitecaps FC select Tate Johnson and Nikola Djordjevic in 2025 MLS SuperDraft". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 20, 2024.
  15. ↑ Burns, Alistair (March 6, 2025). "Halbouni! 'Caps level going into Mexico". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  16. ↑ Knowles, James (April 10, 2025). "Floridian Rookies Series: Tate Johnson". Beyond the 90.
  17. ↑ Vallejo, Felipe (March 9, 2025). "'Caps continue strong start with another W". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  18. ↑ "Media Releases Whitecaps FC sign United States youth international Tate Johnson to contract extension". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 28, 2025.
  19. ↑ Tate Johnson at Soccerway