Welcome to CPL50, a series where we’ll reveal the top 50 players from the 2021 Canadian Premier League regular season, as voted on by a panel of coaches from all eight teams and media from OneSoccer and CanPL.ca.

For more information on the voting process and method, click here. 

What a breakout season for York United’s study midfielder Isaiah Johnston, who lands at number 27 on CPL50’s ranking of the top players in the league in 2021.

Going into this season, the 19-year-old former CPL-U SPORTS Draft pick was well out of anyone’s top collection of CPLers following a handful of appearances at the Island Games last Summer. That quickly changed this Summer when the former Woodbridge Strikers standout exploded onto the Canadian soccer scene, starting in the Kickoff bubble where a shorthanded York side led by then-coach Jimmy Brennan saw the midfielder grow into one of the best in the CPL.

Capable of playing in a no. six or no. eight, Johnston was a lock in the Nine Stripes midfield, often in a pivot with fellow youngsters Cedric Toussaint or Noah Verhoven, and built hardened partnerships.

Johnston was good value for the odd goal too, including a winner against FC Edmonton and a massive away goal in Calgary late in York’s playoff push.

Things you love to see featuring Isaiah Johnston pic.twitter.com/Jy215gIPxN

— York United FC (@yorkutdfc) October 15, 2021

No. 27 in a list of the best CPL players is just the beginning for the young midfielder, who signed a contract through to 2024 with York earlier this year.

The rest of the CPL50 countdown is available here. Five more players will be revealed per day until December 22.