Last December, Will Johnson stood in the center of MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio hoisting the MLS Cup trophy in glee as fireworks shot into the air behind him.

Johnson had known since early fall that he would be leaving the Portland Timbers at the end of the season. But, in that moment, he still relished the opportunity to celebrate one last time with the team he had captained for three seasons, leading the club on the field as they went from Western Conference bottom-dweller to MLS Cup Champions.

"My commitment to the group never wavered even as I was going home talking about where I was going to play next year," said Johnson in a phone interview with the Oregonian/OregonLive. "I did everything I could to leave a positive impression on the group and my teammates, and as soon as it was over I packed up my bags."

Four and a half months after the Timbers officially announced that they would be trading Johnson to Toronto FC, the midfielder is feeling at home with his new club. He has started all seven games this season and leads Toronto with three assists.

But the Timbers still hold a special place in Johnson's heart, and, even though he'll be on the other side of the field, Johnson said he is excited to once again return to Providence Park Sunday when Toronto faces the Timbers.

"It's a club that meant a lot to me," Johnson said. "It's a club that I put a lot of hard work into, a lot of energy, a lot of passion. I'm excited to see all the familiar faces, all the supporters."

Johnson had never planned to leave Portland, but it became clear to him toward the end of last season that he would have to make a move.

After breaking his leg at Toronto FC in September of 2014, the 29-year-old spent the majority of 2015 recovering from the injury.

He managed to initially return to Portland's starting 11 at the end of May, but things clearly weren't right and Johnson still didn't feel like himself on the field. He finally made the decision to undergo minor surgery to remove screws in his leg in early October, recognizing that he needed to have the procedure if he hoped to get back to full strength.

But even before that, Johnson had started to realize that there might no longer be a place for him in Portland's starting 11.

He struggled to break back into the lineup even after scoring a goal and playing 90 minutes with the Canadian National Team in early September, and in mid-October, when Timbers coach Caleb Porter made the decision to move to a formation with just one defensive midfielder, Johnson knew that there would no longer be a spot for him to earn on the field.

Before the end of the 2015 regular season, Johnson sat down with Porter and told the Timbers coach that he wanted to be traded. The Timbers agreed and gave Johnson the opportunity to choose his next club.

"He already had his rotation down and sorted," Johnson said. "I didn't want to stay in a place I wasn't going to play and he understood that."

In Toronto, Johnson has begun a new chapter in his career. The 29-year-old is now completely healthy and has already developed into a key piece in Toronto's system.

"This was a place that I felt I could help the team win," Johnson said. "I've enjoyed my time here and I've fit in well. From an individual perspective, I want to play every single game this year and make up for lost time."

Still, even as he's embarked on a new chapter, Johnson will never forget his three seasons in Portland.

The Timbers were coming off a terrible 2012 season when Porter, who had just taken over as Timbers head coach, brought Johnson in to the squad and quickly gave him the captain's armband. With Johnson leading the way, the Timbers went on to finish first in the Western Conference in 2013, before knocking out the Seattle Sounders in the first round of the playoffs. That season changed the culture of the club, and Johnson was critical to that.

"I loved every moment leading that group," Johnson said. "2013 was a special year, turning things around from 2012. We didn't have the most talented team that year, but we fought hard and only lost five games and that's something I'm proud of."

On Sunday, Johnson will take a moment to enjoy the atmosphere at Providence Park and say hello to his former teammates and coaches. But, when the whistle blows, he won't hold anything back against his former club.

He's a competitor and admits that there might be a moment in the game where he makes the crowd a bit unhappy, but he's hopeful that the supporters will continue to respect him, even though he's on the other side of the field.

"Whatever reception I get, I'll always respect the club and the people in Portland," Johnson said.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg