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London - Sunderland winger Adam Johnson denied three charges of sexual activity with an under-age girl during a court appearance in Durham, northeast England on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old England international, capped 12 times by his country, also denied one charge of grooming.
Wearing a grey suit and white shirt, Johnson entered Durham Crown Court surrounded by his legal team and spoke to enter his not guilty pleas.
Johnson was arrested in March after being accused of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. He will next appear in court on August 24.
The three counts of sexual activity with a child are alleged to have taken place on one night in January at two locations in County Durham, with the grooming offence said to have occurred between December and February.
Johnson was initially suspended by Sunderland pending the outcome of police investigations, but subsequently returned to action for the club, who avoided relegation from the Premier League this season.
Johnson began his career with Middlesbrough and returned to his native northeast in 2012 when he joined Sunderland from Manchester City in a $15.3 million deal.
