
Sunderland have sacked Adam Johnson after he pleaded guilty to grooming and sexual activity with a child under 16 years this week.

The 28-year-old winger shocked club officials on Wednesday when he admitted one count of grooming and one of sexual activity with a 15-year-old schoolgirl. His trial at Bradford Crown Court on two further counts of sexual activity begins on Friday morning.

Sunderland released a brief club statement on Thursday evening, which read: '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 have sacked Adam Johnson after the winger pleaded guilty to grooming and sexual activity with a child under 16 years

Johnson, pictured leaving Bradford Crown Court with his girlfriend Stacey Flounders on Wednesday, admitted grooming, kissing and touching a 15-year-old

Former Manchester City and Middlesbrough player Johnson, pictured in court on Wednesday, admitted two of the four charges against him

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce (right) had confirmed earlier on Thursday that Johnson would not play in the Premier League against Manchester United on Saturday

SUNDERLAND STATEMENT '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.' Advertisement

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce confirmed earlier on Thursday that Johnson - who was on a £50,000-a-week at the Stadium of Light - would not play in the Premier League against Manchester United on Saturday, but the situation quickly escalated and senior club officials took the decision to terminate his contract on Thursday night.

The news came hours after sports manufacturer adidas terminated their boot sponsorship with Johnson, saying in a statement: ‘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.’

Sportsmail understands that adidas’ deal to supply Sunderland’s kit is not affected as Johnson’s £10,000-a-year boot contract was a separate endorsement.

The club’s main sponsors are also declining to comment until the conclusion of his trial.

Allardyce said last week that the 28-year-old would feature for the first team throughout his trial, but at the time believed the player would plead not guilty to all four charges.

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.

The news of Johnson's sacking came hours after sports manufacturer adidas terminated their boot sponsorship with the player

Sunderland relelased a statement on Thursday evening confirming the midfielder's contract had been terminated in light of his guilty pleas

TIMELINE OF EVENTS March 2, 2015 – Johnson is arrested at his home in County Durham on suspicion of having sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.. Sunderland suspend him from playing pending the outcome of the police investigation. Johnson’s family say he is innocent and that they will stand by him. March 18 – Johnson returns to training after Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat lifts his suspension following his arrest. The midfielder comes off the bench against West Ham three days later. April 23– Johnson is charged with three counts of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl and one count of grooming. The three counts of sexual activity are alleged to have taken place on one night in January 2015, while the grooming offence is alleged to have taken place between December 2014 and February 2015. April 24 – It is announced that Johnson can continue to play for Sunderland. May 18 – Johnson’s solicitors tell Peterlee Magistrate’s Court that the footballer intends to deny the three counts of sexual activity and the count of grooming. No pleas are entered at this stage. June 3 – Appearing at Durham Crown Court, Johnson pleads not guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child and another count of grooming. August 3 – Johnson appears at Durham Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing. His trial is pushed back from August 2015 to February 10, 2016 – At Bradford Crown Court, Johnson pleads guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming. However, he continues to deny the other two counts of sexual activity. February 11 – Sunderland sack Johnson. Advertisement

Sunderland-born Johnson emerged from the academy set-up at Middlesbrough as a teenager, earning a £7million move to City in February 2010.

However, he lasted just two-and-a-half years in the blue half of Manchester as he found himself surplus to requirements, and then Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill felt he had staged something of a coup in luring him back to Wearside with a £10million bid during the summer of 2012.

The winger's early form for the Black Cats saw him return to the England squad, although he has found the going tougher in recent years.

In all, he made 141 appearances for the club, 29 of them as a substitute, and scored 22 goals, the last of them his side's first in a 2-2 league draw at Liverpool on Saturday.

Johnson (left) featured as a substitute for Sunderland against Liverpool in the 2-2 draw at Anfield last week and played the final 24 minutes

Johnson throws his shirt into the crowd as he scored after coming on from the bench in Sunderland's draw at Anfield last week

Johnson began his career with Middlesbrough (left) having come through the club's ranks before joining Man City (right) for £7m in 2010