Sunderland have terminated the contract of England international Adam Johnson with immediate effect after he pleaded guilty to two child sex charges at Bradford Crown Court earlier this week.
Manager Sam Allardyce had already said he would not consider the winger for first-team duty, but the club have decided to sack the 28-year-old.
The decision is understood to have been taken by the club’s American owner Ellis Short and managing director Margaret Byrne, with the support of Allardyce.
A statement was released on the club’s official website. It 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.”
Johnson, whose £50,000-a-week contract at the Stadium of Light was due to expire in June, has denied two further charges of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. The trail will resume this morning and is expected to last for at least two weeks.
Johnson had also been informed by his boot sponsors Adidas that they were terminating his contract following his guilty plea to two child sex offences.
The German sport manufacturers released a statement on Thursday which said: “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.”