Aron Johannsson has been the leading scorer so far amongst American players in 2020 and the striker is reportedly considering a pair of options for the January Transfer Window.
Johannsson who is in his second season with Swedish Allsvenskan side Hammarby is targeting a move back to the German Bundesliga or MLS, ESPN reported Wednesday. The U.S. Men’s National Team forward has remained injury free with Hammarby since joining in the summer of 2019, but is already set to move elsewhere this winter.
“After the season now with Hammarby, it looks like I will be parting ways with Hammarby to go somewhere else,” Johannsson said in an interview with ESPN. “I’m not sure exactly now where I will go, but as things stand now I will leave in January.”
“I’ve felt since I left Germany…like kind of a need to go there again to show to myself and to everybody else that I’m good enough to play there.”
Johannsson has scored 12 goals in 22 appearances for Hammarby this season, which is currently good for the fourth-most in the Allsvenskan. The 30-year-old spent four seasons in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen prior to his move to Sweden, but spent more time on the sidelines due to injuries than on the field.
The Alabama native scored five goals in 30 combined appearances for Bremen, but moved to Sweden in hopes of earning consistent playing time. Johannsson has also played in Iceland, Denmark, and the Netherlands during his professional career and has even considered MLS as a target after being linked to the North American League in the past.
“I’ve always said it’s a goal of mine to play in MLS,” Johannsson said. “I’m very interested in MLS, and [playing there] is something I’ve dreamt about for a very long time.”
Johannsson has earned 19 caps for the USMNT in his career, last appearing in 2015. For now he will aim to help Hammarby clinch a top-three finish in the Allsvenskan with only two matches remaining on the league schedule.
The club currently sits in sixth place on 41 points and faces Norrkoping and Orebro to end the season.
i am curious whether AJ gets punished for being at the team that fired the coach he’d be trying to impress. that’s not his fault but it was an odd omission for a coach who likes club form. if so that would be kind of unprofessional.
I would love to see him at Austin…
ArJo has always been a skilled striker, his problem was staying healthy. If his health concerns are truly in the past I could see a Low table team in the Bundesliga picking him up in the hopes that he could add some scoring presence.
Could also see him at a B-2 club pushing for promotion.
While I’m sure he could put up some good numbers in MLS…not sure if there are going to be many takers. Most of MLS has turned a corner and are now focusing on developing young talent to sell to Europe.
I think we’re still quite a ways from saying most of the league is focusing on young talent to sell to Europe. Even FCD has 6 or 7 vets in their lineup every week. It has gotten much better for young players the last two seasons, but still plenty of room for a healthy Aron Johansson.
it would be idiotic to go back to Germany. he’d turned into a bench player and been forgotten. he revived his career with this to the point he was in the discussion again. he needs to either stay put or come to MLS and be picky where he signs. if he ends up sitting his MNT chances — if any — are done. i’d try to come back to hammarby and keep pounding the net but he seems to have slammed that door hard.