Dynamo acquire MF Alex from Chicago; deal Jason Johnson

According to Chicago beat writer Jeff Crandall, the Houston Dynamo have sent forward Jason Johnson to the Chicago Fire in exchange for versatile midfielder Alex. The move looks to provide financial relief for Chicago since Johnson's Generation Adidas contract will not count against the Fire's salary cap. In exchange, Houston will take on Alex's salary, which was reported to be around $133,000 last year (Jason Johnson listed at $121,000).

The Brazilian International has recorded 76 regular season appearances for Chicago since joining in 2012 but has registered just eight minutes this season. In his time with the Fire, Alex has played all over the pitch, from filling in at left back, slotting in at the wings, and playing up top as forward.

Jason Johnson has seen 21 appearances since being drafted in 2013. Last year, Johnson featured for the USL affiliate Pittsburgh Riverhounds while returning for brief stints in Houston where he registered no goals or assists in 8 appearances. Without any minutes in 2015 and unlikely to break through crowded depth, Johnson will head to a Chicago team in need of reliable firepower.

Alex will enter a Houston Dynamo team already full in the midfield and working to solidify a starting roster. His versatility will be a chief benefit to the squad but, although he has featured as forward in the past, Alex has recorded just three goals and two assists in his time with Chicago, making a role beside Giles Barnes unlikely. This could mean he's been brought in as backup for a midfield likely to be depleted in this summer's Gold Cup or perhaps he can reinvent himself on a team in strong need of finding the net (this past weekend aside, of course).

For both players, it appears as if they have an opportunity at a fresh start and could begin seeing minutes with their new clubs soon.