Everton and Crystal Palace Complete Swap Deal Involving Dwight McNeil and Brennan Johnson

Everton and Crystal Palace agree winger swap

Everton and Crystal Palace have finalized a player exchange, sending Dwight McNeil to Selhurst Park and Brennan Johnson to Goodison Park. Both players are set to undergo medical examinations before signing four-year contracts with their new clubs, marking a significant transfer between these Premier League rivals ahead of the new season.

Details of the transfer

According to BBC Sport, the two clubs agreed on this swap deal involving McNeil and the Welsh international forward Johnson. The players will complete their medicals on Monday, paving the way for their transfers. McNeil’s move to Palace rekindles a transfer that fell through last February due to paperwork complications, which had seen a £20 million loan-to-buy agreement collapse just before the deadline.

Partner speaks out on transfer frustrations

The failure of McNeil's earlier move sparked disappointment within his camp, especially from his partner, Megan Sharpley. She shared an emotional post criticizing how the situation affected McNeil’s mental health:

"We live in a world where everyone is aware of how big a problem mental health is. So, in football, why do we find it acceptable because these young men are on a lot of money and that’s OK to mess and toy with their mental health and that it’s just part of the job? To have something promised to you, to have been dragged along on an emotional rollercoaster and to be toyed with until the final minute. For that to be torn away from you at the last second with absolutely no explanation has hurt more than I can say."

Players looking for new opportunities

Brennan Johnson joined Palace in January for £35 million from Tottenham Hotspur, following his winning goal in the 2025 Europa League final. Despite 26 appearances, he did not score for the Eagles. Meanwhile, McNeil has tallied 15 goals in 128 matches for Everton since his £20 million move from Burnley in 2022. Last season, Palace secured a spot in the Europa League by winning the Conference League, while Everton finished 13th in the Premier League standings.

Upcoming showdown and registration race

Both clubs are pushing to complete registration in time for their players to appear in the opening weekend fixtures. Interestingly, Everton and Crystal Palace face each other at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, August 22, setting up a dramatic debut for both McNeil and Johnson against their former teams.

• Everton vs Newcastle United: August 12, 2026, 18:15
• Freiburg vs Crystal Palace: August 15, 2026, 14:00