Everton’s Dwight McNeil (left) and Crystal Palace’s Brennan Johnson have both participated in pre-season matches for their current clubs as negotiations intensify regarding a potential swap deal. The proposed transfer would see Toffees’ winger McNeil join the Eagles, while Wales international Johnson moves in the opposite direction, with both clubs aiming to conclude the agreement this week.
McNeil, 26, nearly moved to Selhurst Park at the start of February when Palace agreed a loan-to-buy deal, which would have turned into a £20m permanent move this summer. However, the transfer collapsed at the final hurdle as the required paperwork could not be completed in time, despite the player having already passed a medical examination.
Following the failed move earlier this year, McNeil’s partner, Megan Sharpley, took to social media to criticize the process. She wrote on Instagram: “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.”
The deal has now been revived, with Brennan Johnson included in the exchange. The 25-year-old, who has earned 45 caps for Wales, previously scored the winning goal for Tottenham in their 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final in May 2025.
Johnson moved to Palace in a £35m deal in January and helped them reach the Conference League final. Although he was an unused substitute in their 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, the result secured the Eagles their first European trophy. During his time at Palace, Johnson failed to score in 26 appearances across all competitions, including 13 starts in the Premier League.
Dwight McNeil joined Everton from Burnley for £20m in July 2022 and has since scored 15 times in 128 games in all competitions. Everton finished 13th in the Premier League last season, while Palace finished two places below them in the table. Despite their league standing, Palace will compete in the Europa League in 2026-27 following their recent Conference League success.
The two sides are scheduled to meet at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, 22 August, in the opening weekend of the new Premier League campaign.
