The 27-year-old England international was due to travel with the rest of the squad to east Yorkshire on Monday afternoon for Tuesday night's Barclays Premier League fixture at Hull.
A club statement said: "Sunderland AFC has confirmed that Adam Johnson has been suspended from the club, pending the outcome of a police investigation
No further comment will be made at the present time."
Sources had earlier confirmed that the former Middlesbrough and Manchester City star had been arrested and remained in custody helping Durham Police with their inquires.
Easington-born Johnson began his career at Boro, where he emerged from the club's academy to win a £7million switch to Manchester City in February 2010.
However, after a difficult final few months in the blue half of Manchester, Sunderland persuaded him to head back to the north-east as they clinched a £10million deal in August 2012.
Johnson, who has 12 senior England caps - the last of them in a friendly victory over Italy in August 2012 - has struggled to reproduce his best form on a sustained basis on Wearside.
However, he has endeared himself to Black Cats fans with goals in each of the club's three derby victories at Newcastle in as many seasons, including a late winner at St James' Park on December 21 last year.
Source : PA
Source: PA