It's official: Fire trade Sean Johnson

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It wasn’t a well kept secret that Sean Johnson was being traded by the Chicago Fire in advance of Tuesday’s expansion draft, but the twist is that Johnson isn’t landing in Atlanta as originally expected.

Days after word of the Johnson trade to Atlanta broke, ESPN’s Taylor Twellman reported that American national team goalkeeper Brad Guzan would be signing for the expansion club for the 2017 season. That made Atlanta’s acquisition of Johnson, an Atlanta area native, somewhat unnecessary.

Suddenly, instead of leaving Chicago to become the starting goalkeeper at his hometown club, Johnson was looking at being a backup to a national teamer.

Johnson's move became official on Sunday during the league's three-hour trading window before the expansion draft. The Fire traded Johnson to Atlanta United FC for general allocation money. Johnson was then immediately shipped to New York City FC for both general and targeted allocation money.

Johnson, 27, had been with the Fire his entire pro career since being drafted in 2010. Johnson was by far the longest tenured player on the Fire’s roster. His departure, along with Razvan Cocis not having his option picked up in November, means Collin Fernandez now takes over that title. Fernandez signed with the Fire as a homegrown player in August of 2014, but wasn’t eligible to play with the first team until 2015.

Johnson penned a thank you letter to Fire fans upon his exit, which was posted on the Fire's official website.

"This is by far one of the toughest things I’ve ever had to put in words," Johnson said. "The past seven years has been an incredible journey starting with a dream turned into an opportunity, eventually becoming a place that I am proud to call home. I never thought this day would come, but unfortunately this chapter of my life is coming to a close."

Johnson totaled 176 regular season appearances with the Fire in seven seasons. He also started the Fire’s only playoff match in those seven years. Johnson leaves the Fire with the ninth most appearances in club history, second among goalkeepers behind Zach Thornton.

This past season Johnson made 22 starts in goal after sitting the first nine matches of the season while Matt Lampson began the season as the apparent No. 1. Johnson figures to contend with NYCFC's returning goalkeeper Josh Saunders, who has started 66 of the club's 68 matches.

The move means the Fire have an opening at goalkeeper. Whether or not Matt Lampson becomes the No. 1, as he was for the start of 2016, the Fire only have one goalkeeper under contract after declining Patrick McLain’s option.

The trade also marks the second offseason in a row that one of the most popular players on the club was traded away. In February, homegrown player and former Rookie of the Year finalist Harry Shipp was traded to Montreal.

In addition, the Fire could have as few as one player unprotected ahead of the expansion draft. The Fire can protect 11 players and homegrowns aren’t eligible to be selected. The Fire currently have 16 players under contract and four of those are homegrowns, meaning only 12 players are eligible for the expansion draft and would need to be protected. The list of protected players comes out tomorrow.

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