Disgraced former Premier League footballer Adam Johnson has settled a half-a million-pound tax bill after a seven-year court battle.
Adam Johnson Promotions Ltd was set up back in 2007 to collect image rights for the former Manchester City and England winger, but was liquidated owing more than £523,000 to HMRC.
The Mirror has since reported that the 35-year-old's parents, David and Sonia, were listed as shareholders of the company. They each owned 50 of its 100 shares.
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HMRC presented a winding-up petition in 2016 and a "final proof of debt" of £523,737.33 in 2017. It was disputed at The Business and Property Courts in Newcastle before an exchange of "accountancy evidence" was agreed in 2021, Chronicle Live reports.
Court documents show the Official Receiver, acting as liquidator, reached an agreement to stay the proceedings 'on terms'. That means that they have arrived at a means of settlement.
Johnson, who began his career at Middlesbrough, has moved into a new home with Stacey Flounders, 33, the mother of his two children. They got back together after his release in 2019 from a six-year jail term for sexual activity with a girl of 15.
They now have a two-year-old son as well as their eight-year-old daughter.
The former Sunderland player sold his eight-bedroom home in Castle Eden, County Durham, which went on the market for £1.75m. It is believed he made a profit of more than £1m.
Johnson's dad David, who also acted as his agent, declined to comment.
An HMRC spokesperson said: "We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts and only file winding-up petitions once we've exhausted all other options, in order to protect taxpayers’ money."
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