After announcing Tuesday that U.S. striker Eddie Johnson would be returning to MLS, league executive vice president Todd Durbin said the deal had collapsed.

Johnson, 27, is out of contract after struggling for three and a half seasons to find a regular place at Fulham, which loaned him out to several clubs. He would have been brought back into the league via the allocation process at a salary of $175,000 (prorated) this season, $225,000 in 2012, and $275,000 in 2013, and an unidentified team had agreed to take him at those salaries. But the deal fell apart and MLS isn't eager to re-start the process.

"We had reached agreement, subject to formal documents," Durbin said to MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday. "It's unfortunate the player did not want to conclude a formal agreement, but we wish him well in his future endeavors."