Having graduated through the ranks at Middlesbrough, this gifted winger attracted the interest of Manchester City in January 2010 and he made the move to Eastlands for a fee of around £8 million.

After increasing involvement in the Boro first team during the 2005-06 season, Johnson was rewarded with an improved four-year in the summer of 2006 but struggled to establish himself in the side during the 2006-07 season.

Johnson subsequently went out on loan to Leeds United and Watford but, when he was offered the chance to go on loan to Rangers in the summer of 2008, he chose to stay on. Fighting his way into the first-team, Johnson began to make an impact in 2008-09 and capitalised on the injury to first-choice winger Stewart Downing.

With Downing sold, and Boro relegated, Johnson took his chance in the Championship and impressed further at the start of the 2009-10 season - enough to attract interest from the Premier League's elite.

He rejected a move to hometown club Sunderland in January to join City and compete for his place, and the decision was swiftly justified as he put in a string of impressive performances, earning praise from Roberto Mancini and Fabio Capello in the process.

Strengths: A creative player of great natural ability, Johnson is at his best when running at defenders down the flanks and he can also provide an end product.

Weaknesses: Slightly lightweight, and he would benefit from becoming more two-footed.

Career High: His superb last-gasp goal against Sunderland in March 2010 rescued a point for Manchester City and brought him plenty of praise.

Career Low: Having forced his way into Fabio Capello's initial 30-man England squad for the 2010 World Cup, he admits he was "absolutely devastated" to miss the final cut.

Style: A left-footed winger who models himself on Lionel Messi, Johnson has great technique and can unlock defences.

Quotes: "He is a young player who wants to do well. He can play on both the left and the right and he can also play behind the main striker. He can continue to grow and I think he can be a very important player for this club." - Roberto Mancini, February 2010

Trivia: Johnson played at Wembley as a ten-year-old for Peterlee in a seven-a-side tournament.