Born in Wiltshire, Tyreke Johnson signed his first professional contract at St Mary’s in Nov 2015. He was an offensive powerful midfielder and he made a fleeting first appearance as a 90th minute substitute against Arsenal in December 2018 in a memorable 3-2 victory, which gave new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl his first win.

The following month he was off the bench again in a cup-tie, away to Derby, replacing Charlie Austin in the 79th minute and then started the replay 13 days later, only to be subbed at half-time after picking up a booking in the opening 45 minutes. A loan spell at Woking in the National League was curtailed by injury and then he made the unlikely loan move to the US, following his U23 coach Radhi Jaidi to Hartford. He did not let himself down but by the time he returned to Southampton, Covid-19 has disrupted football and there were other young attacking players higher up the pecking order.

In January 2021, with his contract due to expire in the summer he went on loan again, this time to Gillingham, but ten days later the transfer was made permanent.