Former Sunderland chief executive Margaret Byrne received an £850,000 payoff after resigning in the wake of the Adam Johnson child abuse case.
Ms Byrne was heavily criticised for allowing the winger to keep playing despite being aware of an allegation he had kissed an underage girl.
The figure was revealed in club accounts which also show she was paid £1.2m that year.
Johnson was sacked by the club after he pleaded guilty in 2016.
At the time, Ms Byrne, who was appointed chief executive in 2011, said the decision to let the England winger play after his arrest in 2015 "was a serious mistake" despite her belief he would plead not guilty.