Sunderland and England midfielder Adam Johnson has been charged with four offences concerning sex with an under-age girl, a prosecutor said on Thursday.
"Following an investigation by Durham Police, I have today authorised police to charge Adam Johnson, aged 27, with four offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003," said Gerry Wareham, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North East, in a statement.
"The offences are alleged to have been committed on one girl aged 15 at the time."
Johnson was initially arrested on March 2 and will appear at Peterlee magistrates court on May 20.
Image: Adam Johnson
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