Disgraced footballer Adam Johnson has suffered a fresh financial setback after being compelled to downsize his living situation. The 38-year-old remains out of the sport following his conviction for sexual activity with a 15-year-old and child grooming, which resulted in a six-year prison sentence.
The former Manchester City, Sunderland and Middlesbrough player was found guilty of one additional charge of sexual activity with a child and cleared on a second count of the same offence. He completed half of his sentence in custody before being freed on licence in March 2019. Johnson, who earned around £60,000 per week during the peak of his football career, previously resided in a luxurious £1.75million mansion in County Durham but offloaded the property following a dispute with HMRC.
After a protracted legal battle, he agreed to pay the tax authorities almost £524,000. The property in question is now owned by England Test cricket captain Ben Stokes.
Having reunited with his long-term partner and mother of his two children, Stacey Flounders, Johnson and his family now reside in a more humble four-bedroom property, which was purchased for £470,000. The property, also in County Durham, boasts views of a golf course, of which Johnson is reportedly a member.
An insider revealed to the Daily Mail: “Most people would consider themselves fortunate to live on the Wynyard Estate, but their home is a considerable drop in circumstances from what he’s been used to in the past.”
However, the couple has suffered another financial blow as Flounders’ events company has been liquidated. All About Me Events Ltd was voluntarily struck off on September 30 after five years in operation.
Despite his attempts to persuade various clubs to sign him, Johnson has failed to revive his career. Now in his late-30s, his playing days seem to be virtually over, as forecasted by then PFA chief Gordon Taylor following his conviction.
Taylor told the BBC at the time: “I feel that prospect is, to say the least, very remote, if at all. 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.”