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FORMER MANCHESTER CITY AND ENGLAND WINGER ADAM JOHNSON WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON SIX YEARS AGO BUT HAS NOT RETURNED TO PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL SINCE BEING SACKED BY SUNDERLAND IN 2016 07:30, 22

May 2025 Six years on from his release from prison, disgraced footballer Adam Johnson remains without a club. The 37-year-old spent most of his 12-year professional career with his boyhood

club, Sunderland, before having his contract terminated in 2016. His sacking by the Black Cats followed his guilty plea to sexual activity with a child, aged 15, and child grooming. It

landed him a six-year prison sentence in 2016. Johnson was also found guilty of one further offence of sexual activity with a child and found not guilty on a second count of the same crime.

He spent a total of three years in prison, at which point he was released on licence, having served half of his original sentence before leaving prison on March 22, 2019. After

Johnson's six-year sentencing in 2016, the PFA's then-chief Gordon Taylor did not mince his words about the former Manchester City and Middlesbrough winger's prospects of ever

resuming his professional football career. "I feel that prospect is, to say the least, very remote, if at all," he told BBC Radio 5 live at the time (via FourFourTwo). Article

continues below "It's not unexpected. The judge had said it was a very serious issue and he would be away for quite some time. Six years is not unexpected. Our thoughts are very

much with the victim in this matter." The Mirror reported that Johnson’s sister, Faye, had told a friend after his release: "He was going to write an open letter to all the clubs

explaining why he can benefit them if they give him another chance. Genuinely thought he was joking when he told me but he was deadly serious.” In 2019, The Mail claimed that League One and

League Two clubs within commuting distance of Johnson's County Durham home stated they would not consider signing the player. He sold his property in Castle Eden, which he bought in

2010, for £1.75 million in 2022. Upon release in 2019, Johnson said he felt “remorse” over his actions. His dad and agent, Dave declined to comment when asked whether his son could make a

potential return to professional football. The former Premier League and FA Cup winner said: "I am very sorry for the effect my conduct had on those, directly and indirectly, involved.

It should never have happened and I deeply regret what I did. "I now want to concentrate on the future and want to demonstrate through my actions that I am committed to repaying them

for their support." As per a 2021 report by The Sun, Johnson, who played for England between 2010 and 2012, considered relocating overseas to revive his football career. That came after

he reunited with former partner Stacey Flounders and the pair had a second child in 2021. A source told the publication: “The couple have been rebuilding their life together two years after

Johnson was released early – and are now considering whether their future lies abroad.” Article continues below There were some suggestions at the time that a move abroad would help him

resume his career but such a deal was made unfeasible due to the nature of his conviction. Johnson remains under obligation to inform the police when he plans to travel overseas. Meanwhile,

many countries have laws in place requiring individuals to share details of prior convictions if they want to work there and undergoing criminal records checks. As reported by The Mirror in

2019, opportunities in China, the Middle East, the USA, or Australia were not deemed possible for Johnson.