Alistair Johnston has become one of Canada’s most important footballers, earning a steady place at Celtic FC and a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.
This article covers everything about Alistair Johnston’s net worth, salary, contract details, and career earnings in one place.
Alistair Johnston’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alistair William Johnston |
| Date of Birth | October 8, 1998 |
| Age | 27 |
| Nationality | Canadian / Northern Irish |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Position | Right-Back |
| Current Club | Celtic FC |
| Turned Professional | 2020 (Nashville SC) |
| Net Worth | ~$3 million |
| Annual Salary | ~€1.6 million (~$1.75 million USD) |
| Contract Expires | June 30, 2029 |
| @alistairjohnston |
Early Life and Career
Alistair Johnston was born on October 8, 1998, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His father, Bill Johnston, is Canadian, and his mother, Catherine, is originally from Newtownards in Northern Ireland — a heritage that later qualified Johnston for both Canadian and UK passports.
His family moved to Montreal when he was four years old, where he began playing soccer with Lakeshore SC, before relocating again to Aurora, Ontario, when he was seven.
Growing up in Aurora, Johnston passed through several youth clubs, including Richmond Hill SC and ANB Futbol.
He made his debut in the Canadian youth program at an under-18 camp in 2015, playing youth football at a number of different clubs including Vaughan Azzurri, where he won several accolades such as the Ontario Cup at under-21 level.
He attended St. John’s University for two seasons (2016–2017), starting all 36 games and recording 24 points (10 goals, 8 assists) as a midfielder, before transferring to Wake Forest University for two seasons (2018–2019), where he appeared in 43 matches, tallied 22 points (6 goals, 10 assists), and earned 2019 ACC All-Tournament Team recognition.
It was at Wake Forest that Johnston made the positional switch from central midfielder to right-back — a move that would define his entire career trajectory.
He also represented Canada at the youth level through identification camps, showing early signs of the discipline and fitness that have become his trademarks at the professional level.
Professional Career
Johnston was selected 11th overall by Nashville SC in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, making his professional debut there. He played for Nashville from 2020 to 2021 before being traded to CF Montréal in December 2021.
His first MLS season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he still made 21 appearances for Nashville in 2020 and 28 the following year.
CF Montreal gave up US$1 million in general allocation money — $750,000 in 2022 and $250,000 in 2023 — to acquire Johnston, whose salary had been a bargain at US$73,079 in his second MLS season.
At Montreal in 2022, Johnston produced his most productive MLS season, registering four goals and five assists in 35 appearances — form that attracted major European interest.
In December 2022, Celtic signed Johnston from CF Montréal, and he has proven to be a smash hit in Glasgow, both in terms of his play and his character.
His debut came in a 2–2 draw at Ibrox on January 2, 2023, and he went on to become a Treble winner that same season as Celtic swept all domestic honours.
In the 2023/24 season, the right-back was once again ever present with over 40 appearances, including starting in all six Champions League matches and notching seven assists, helping the club to a League and Scottish Cup double.
Johnston also made his senior Canada debut on March 25, 2021, against Bermuda, and has since become a cornerstone of the national team.
He played in all of Canada’s matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and played every minute of Canada’s 2024 Copa América run, where he picked up the Man of the Match award in the quarter-final against Venezuela.
As of 2026, he has earned 58 caps and scored one international goal for Canada. He is part of the squad Canada Soccer officially announced on May 29, 2026 for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Alistair Johnston’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Alistair Johnston’s has an estimated net worth of approximately $3 million.
He built this wealth through professional football contracts in Major League Soccer and the Scottish Premiership, along with his consistent representation of Canada at the international level. His earnings have grown significantly since his days on a $73,079 MLS salary, and his long-term Celtic contract guarantees substantial income through 2029.
Contract
Johnston signed his current long-term deal with Celtic in November 2024. Celtic announced that the right-back had signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract at the club that runs until the summer of 2029.
According to Transfermarkt, Johnston joined Celtic on January 1, 2023, with his contract now extended through June 30, 2029, following a last contract extension on November 22, 2024.
The contract represents a strong vote of confidence from Celtic’s management. Johnston has worn the number 2 shirt at Celtic Park since his arrival, and the new deal locks him in as the first-choice right-back for the foreseeable future.
The transfer fee Celtic paid to bring him from CF Montréal was reported at approximately €3.5 million, according to Transfermarkt’s transfer history data.
Salary
Celtic’s two primary right-backs, Alistair Johnston and Julian Araujo, are on identical annual salaries of €1.6 million for the 2025/26 season.
Converting to USD at current rates, this places Johnston’s annual earnings at approximately $1.75 million per year.
This is a dramatic rise from his early MLS days. His salary was just US$73,079 in his second MLS season at Nashville SC in 2021.
His move to CF Montréal in 2022 brought a significant pay rise, and the jump to Celtic pushed his earnings into the top tier of Canadian footballers playing abroad.
At Celtic, Johnston sits in the middle salary tier. The squad’s salaries are structured into distinct tiers, with an elite group including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (€3.3M) and Kieran Tierney (€3.1M) earning over €3M.
Johnston’s current wage of €1.6M per year reflects his value as a dependable starter who contributes in both defence and attack. You can explore further salary context through Capology’s Celtic salary database.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | Approx. Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Nashville SC | ~$73,079 USD |
| 2021 | Nashville SC | ~$73,079 USD |
| 2022 | CF Montréal | ~$300,000–$400,000 USD (estimated) |
| 2022/23 | Celtic FC | ~$600,000–$800,000 USD (estimated) |
| 2023/24 | Celtic FC | ~$1.0–$1.2 million USD (estimated) |
| 2024/25 | Celtic FC | ~$1.6–$1.75 million USD |
| 2025/26 | Celtic FC | ~$1.75 million USD (€1.6M confirmed) |
Career Statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Nashville SC | MLS | 21 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 | Nashville SC | MLS | 28 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022 | CF Montréal | MLS | 35 | 4 | 5 |
| 2022/23 | Celtic FC | Scottish Premiership | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023/24 | Celtic FC | Scottish Premiership | 32 | 1 | 5 |
| 2024/25 | Celtic FC | Scottish Premiership | 32 | 4 | 10 |
| 2025/26 | Celtic FC | Scottish Premiership | 7* | 0 | 0 |
FAQs
What is Alistair Johnston’s net worth?
Alistair Johnston’s net worth is estimated at approximately $3 million. He has accumulated this through professional contracts at Nashville SC, CF Montréal, and Celtic FC, where he currently earns around €1.6 million per year.
How much does Alistair Johnston earn at Celtic?
Johnston earns an annual salary of approximately €1.6 million at Celtic FC for the 2025/26 season. This makes him one of the club’s mid-tier earners, in line with fellow right-back Julian Araujo on the same wage.
When does Alistair Johnston’s Celtic contract expire?
His current Celtic contract runs until June 30, 2029. He signed this extended deal in November 2024 after Celtic showed their commitment to keeping him as their first-choice right-back long term.
Is Alistair Johnston playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Yes, Johnston is part of Canada’s official 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, announced on May 29, 2026. He will be playing his second World Cup, having also featured in every match at Qatar 2022.
What trophies has Alistair Johnston won at Celtic?
Since joining Celtic in January 2023, Johnston has won two Scottish Premiership titles, two League Cups, and two Scottish Cups. He also played every minute of Celtic’s 2023/24 Champions League group stage campaign.
