Johnson suspended by Sunderland after arrest, out on bail
LONDON (AP) — English Premier League club Sunderland suspended midfielder Adam Johnson on Monday after he was arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16.
The 27-year-old Johnson, who has played for England, was later released on police bail “pending ongoing investigations,” a force in northeast England said.
News of Johnson’s arrest emerged Monday, a day before Sunderland’s Premier League game at Hull.
“A 27-year-old man was arrested earlier today on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under 16,” police in the northeast city of Durham said in a statement on Monday when asked about reports of Johnson’s arrest.
In response, Sunderland said in a statement that Johnson had been suspended by the club “pending the outcome of a police investigation.”
Johnson grew up near Durham and began his career in the northeast with Middlesbrough, graduating from the academy to the first team. Johnson’s impressive performances secured a transfer to Manchester City in 2010 for 7 million pounds (now about $11 million).
But after City won the Premier League in 2012, Johnson sought more regular first-team football and joined Sunderland for 10 million pounds (now about $15 million).
Johnson made the last of his 12 England appearances in August 2012 against Italy.
This article was from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.
