England footballer Adam Johnson denies child sex charges
- Published
Adam Johnson denied the charges at Durham Crown Court
England and Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson has appeared in court to deny charges of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.
The 27-year-old pleaded not guilty at Durham Crown Court to three counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 and another of grooming.
The winger, who has played 12 times for England, was arrested in March.
Johnson, from Castle Eden, County Durham, was released on conditional bail ahead of his trial on 24 August.
The three counts of sexual activity relate to a single night in January at two locations in County Durham, while the grooming offence was said to have happened between December and February.
Born in Sunderland, Johnson began his career at Middlesbrough before moving to Manchester City and then Sunderland for £10m in 2012.