Adam Johnson has told Bradford Crown Court that his former football club Sunderland knew "from the start" that he had kissed a 15-year-old girl.
The 28-year-old denies two counts of sexual activity with a child under the age of 16, but previously admitted to one count of the same charge and a further count of grooming.
The footballer, who has earned 12 England caps, is alleged to have taken part in a sex act with the teenager in his parked car last January during a second meeting between the pair.
While being cross-examined by Kate Blackwell QC, Johnson claimed that he had informed the club that he had passionately kissed the accuser, but the players and staff at the Premier League club wanted him to continue playing.
The former Manchester City winger was suspended by the Black Cats shortly after his arrest in March, but was welcomed back into the fold two weeks later.
In court, Johnson told the jury that even though the events were playing on his mind, he had no problem returning to the pitch.
"I wanted to carry on doing my job," Johnson said in court. "They knew from the start everything I told them, so I didn't see it as a problem to go back and do what I was paid to do."
Sunderland terminated the player's contract on February 11, one day after he publicly admitted to child sex offences.
