Sunderland sack forward after he plead guilty to grooming and sexual activity with a child

Police arrested the former Manchester City player in March and was hit with a .

After initially denying all four charges, the 28-year-old at a court hearing this morning admitted a charge of sexual activity with a child and a charge of grooming.

Johnson who attended the trials with his girlfriend Stacey Flounders at the Bradford Crown Court however denied two other charges of sexual activity with an underage girl.

He is now due to stand trial on the remaining two counts of sexual activity with a child.

Following his guilty plea, Sunderland who have supported the England international all through this case have terminated his £50,000-a-week contract.

The club was shocked when the forward admitted to two of his charges in his child sex offence case.

His trial at Bradford Crown Court on two further counts of sexual activity begins on this morning.

“In light of Adam Johnson's guilty pleas, the club has today terminated his contract with immediate effect. The club will make no further comment,” Sunderland said in a statement.

Johnson joined Sunderland in 2012 and has scored 22 times in 141 games for the club.

His last game for the club was in their 2-2 league draw at Liverpool on Saturday.

Johnson has had his £10,000-a-year boot sponsorship with adidas terminated.  “Adidas can confirm that it has terminated its contract with footballer Adam Johnson with immediate effect. This follows his guilty pleas entered earlier this week,” the sportswear company said in a statement.

Johnson now faces the prospect of a prison term with guidelines on sentencing for the grooming offence giving a maximum of two years and six months.

Watch this Adam Johnson video, below: