▁He ▁remained ▁with ▁them ▁until ▁his ▁contract ▁exp ired ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 1 – 0 2 ▁season , ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁given ▁a ▁free ▁transfer . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁Joh ns en ▁and ▁fellow ▁Norwegian ▁international ▁ Ø y v ind ▁Leon h ards en ▁had ▁a ▁trial ▁at ▁German ▁side ▁Sch al ke ▁ 0 4 . ▁After ▁that ▁move ▁fell ▁through , ▁Joh ns en ▁signed ▁with ▁A ston ▁Villa . ▁In ▁two ▁years ▁at ▁A ston ▁Villa , ▁he ▁scored ▁once ▁in ▁the ▁league , ▁against ▁Le eds ▁United ▁in ▁February ▁ 2 0 0 4 . ▁After ▁leaving ▁A ston ▁Villa , ▁Joh ns en ▁was ▁offered ▁a ▁trial ▁at ▁South am pton ▁and ▁played ▁against ▁Ch ie vo ▁Ver ona ▁in ▁a ▁friendly , ▁ultimately ▁he ▁could ▁not ▁agree ▁terms ▁with ▁the ▁club . ▁Joh ns en ▁then ▁signed ▁for ▁New castle ▁United ▁but ▁only ▁played ▁a ▁hand ful ▁of ▁games ▁before ▁being ▁released ▁with ▁concerns ▁over ▁his ▁fit ness ▁levels . ▁ ▁In ▁February ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁Joh ns en ▁announced ▁his ▁ret irement ▁from ▁professional ▁football . ▁Short ly ▁afterwards ▁he ▁changed ▁his ▁mind , ▁signing ▁a ▁one - year ▁contract ▁with ▁the ▁Norwegian ▁club ▁V å ler eng a . ▁Sub sequently , ▁he ▁renew ed ▁this ▁contract ▁three ▁times ▁for ▁the ▁following ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁seasons