First-round pick Daniel Johnson just officially signed his first professional contract with the Chicago Fire on Monday.
Last week, during the Fire's media day, the winger from Louisville spoke with CSN Chicago about his draft day experience, which he said included about two hours of interviews and pictures after he was selected by the Fire at No. 11 overall.
"It was a whirlwind, man," Johnson said. "I flew home the next day and I actually had some time to relax back home in Atlanta."
Johnson mentions some of the players he's looking forward to playing against in Major League Soccer, including a former Fire player. He also talks about the difference between being a soccer player growing up in Atlanta vs. what it was like in London with West Ham United's academy.
"Growing up in Atlanta and being a young American kid you have so much stuff outside of soccer," Johnson said. "You've got school, your friends, extracurriculars, everything and then you also have soccer. When I was in London for three and a half, four years it was soccer and then off the field you're taking care of yourself for soccer. Your whole day revolves around pretty much your training schedule, getting to the training ground, meeting with coaches. It's soccer full-time. I mean I loved it, but it’s just a complete different mentality towards the sport where it takes precedent over pretty much everything else, which for me was a dream."
Watch the video above for the full interview.