William Jack Johnson (born 5 March 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for League of Ireland Premier Division club Waterford, on loan from club Fleetwood Town.
Johnson was born in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham and raised in the village of Eaglescliffe in the borough. He played County & District level football and also played in the academy at Darlington. He also featured in the first team for Norton & Stockton Ancients who played senior football in the Wearside Football League. He signed a two-year scholarship at EFL League One side Fleetwood Town in the summer of 2021, joining the under-18 side managed by Simon Wiles.
On 22 November 2022, he penned his first professional contract with Fleetwood signing a two-year deal. The youngster had impressed having been made under-18's captain in the summer of 2022 when becoming a second-year scholar. In December 2022, he was sent out on loan to North West Counties Football League Premier Division side Barnoldswick Town, but only featured in one game against A.F.C. Liverpool.
He first featured in the first team squad on 1 March 2023, when he was an unused substitute for Fleetwood's record FA Cup run to the fifth round, losing to Burnley 1âÂÂ0 at Turf Moor. Two days later, he was sent out on loan to Northern Premier League Premier Division side Marine until the end of the season to gain some further senior experience. He made eleven appearances for the club as they finished in 9th place but also won the Liverpool Senior Cup, beating Runcorn Linnets on penalties to lift the trophy for the first time in fifteen years.
At the beginning of the 2023âÂÂ24 season he was moved up full-time to the under-21 squad and was again appointed captain. He made his professional debut on 7 November 2023, also scoring the third goal in a 4âÂÂ0 win over Leicester City in the EFL Trophy group stage, having come on as a substitute at half time. In March 2024, he headed back to his native North-East when he joined National League side Gateshead on loan until the end of the season to help with their play-off push. He only featured twice during the loan as Gateshead finished in the play-off places but were unable to participate due to not meeting the entry requirements to the EFL.
He mainly featured for the under-21 squad during the 2024âÂÂ25 season but did feature for the first team at the back end of the season due to injuries, making his EFL debut under Pete Wild in the 3âÂÂ1 defeat to Harrogate Town on Easter Monday, replacing Rhys Bennett in the second half. He followed that up with his first start five days later in the penultimate game of the season, starting at right back in a 2âÂÂ0 win over Newport County.
On 23 February 2026, it was announced that he had signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Waterford on loan until the end of their season.
Johnson is the son of former professional defender Alan Johnson, who represented Wigan Athletic, Lincoln City, Preston North End and Rochdale in the English Football League.