JERMAINE ‘Teddy’ Johnson, the speedy Jamaican midfieder, has been declared bankrupt, according to reoprts coming out of Britain yesterday.

The Sheffield Wednesday regular, who has reportely piled up debts with British tax authorities, had the action filed in a Sheffield court on his behalf by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), after the state agency initially petitioned for the player’s bankruptcy back in May this year.

The sums owed by the Jamaican was not disclosed by the HMRC, who claimed that “for legal reasons” it does not “comment on tax affairs of individuals”.

“Our aim is not to bankrupt individuals but to collect, as efficiently as we can, the debts that are due and to prevent any situation deteriorating further, using the range of powers available to us,” a spokeswoman of the HMRC was quoted in the British media.

Bankruptcy is defined as a legal status of a person or other entity that cannot repay the debts it owes to creditors. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor.

Johnson, 33, joined Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday from Bradford City six years ago and has been regular for the club making 205 appearances and scoring 25 goals. He is the club’s longest-serving player.

The club refused to comment on the player’s tax battles.

Johnson, who has had a lengthy spell in the British Leagues after first moving from Tivoli Gardens to Bolton Wanderers on loan back in 2001 for £1 million, has been capped 74 times for Jamaica’s senior national team and has scored nine goals.

He has also had a stint with Oldham Athletic.

After being out of the Reggae Boyz outfit for most of the Brazil 2014 World Cup campaign, Johnson was recalled to the Jamaica set-up in February 2013, making an appearance in the team’s 0-0 draw with Mexico, which marked his first appearance since November 2009.

The speedy player also followed that up with an appearance as substitute against Panama in a 1-1 draw.