Brennan Johnson Prepares for Milestone Appearance with Ambitions for Future Tournaments
As Brennan Johnson approaches a personal milestone, he reflects on his achievements in football while expressing a desire to participate in more major tournaments with Wales. The 25-year-old forward is on the verge of making his 50th appearance in an upcoming Nations League match against Norway on Saturday, which will position him as the third-youngest Welshman to reach this landmark, following Ethan Ampadu and Chris Gunter.
Johnson has already experienced one major tournament—the 2022 World Cup—after missing selection for Euro 2020. While Wales did not qualify for this summer’s World Cup, Johnson recognizes the significant opportunity presented by Euro 2028, particularly as Cardiff has been named one of eight host cities.
“Even when I think about having a Euros here now, it is special,” Johnson stated. “We’ve got a good squad and a lot of players playing at a good level. Everyone knows it’s coming up, and it motivates us to work hard and show what we can do.”
Originally from Nottingham, Johnson played at the age-grade level for England before switching his allegiance to Wales in 2018—a choice he affirms has been rewarding.
“As soon as I came to Wales, I got a [good] feeling straight away and never looked back. You appreciate every cap for what it is; [50] kind of sneaks up on you a little bit. Playing at a World Cup was the highlight. It didn’t go how we wanted it to, but I dreamed of playing at a World Cup from a young age. Qualifying for the World Cup the way we did in the play-offs was really special, along with my debut and scoring my first goal—big moments to look back on.”
Johnson remains optimistic about future opportunities and believes that the current Wales squad, under Craig Bellamy’s guidance, can find inspiration from past successes.
“There’s a real confidence, and I think it comes from the groups that were before,” he noted, recalling the team that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016. “Even before I was playing for Wales, the lads got far in the Euros, and it gives you the confidence that it is possible. We want to carry on and raise the levels as much as we can. It’s difficult because there were some unbelievable players in the past, and it’s hard to replicate directly against those players. But as a team, we want to give everything we’ve got—that’s a good place to be.”
Johnson began his domestic career with Nottingham Forest, where his scoring prowess helped the team secure promotion to the Premier League in 2022 and maintain their status in the top flight the following season. His subsequent transfer to Tottenham for £47.5 million made him the second-most expensive Welsh signing after Gareth Bale, and he notably scored the winning goal in the Europa League final against Manchester United, ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought.
After a short stint with Crystal Palace, he joined Everton over the summer. Despite only finding the net once this season in the Carabao Cup, Johnson remains excited about his potential.
“There’s definitely more to come, and I’m excited for the next years,” he said. “I’m really happy with what I’ve achieved in football. But at the same time, I want to achieve more, especially with Wales.”
