The Sunderland winger was arrested last month amid allegations of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.
Sunderland winger Adam Johnson has been charged with three counts of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16 and one count of sexual grooming.
The England international was arrested last month on suspicion of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl and subsequently bailed.
A Durham Constabulary statement read: "Adam Johnson, a professional footballer aged 27 from Castle Eden, County Durham has this afternoon been charged with three offenses of sexual activity with a child under 16 years old, plus one offense of grooming.