Everton's McNeil & Palace's Johnson poised for swap

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Everton's Dwight McNeil (left) and Crystal Palace's Brennan Johnson have played in pre-season matches for their current clubs

Everton and Crystal Palace are in talks about a swap deal that would see Toffees' winger Dwight McNeil join the Eagles and Wales international Brennan Johnson move in the opposite direction.

Both clubs are hoping to conclude the deal 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 fell through as the required paperwork could not be completed in time, even though McNeil had already passed a medical.

"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."

But the deal has been revived, with Johnson now involved in the exchange.

The 25-year-old, who has played 45 times for Wales, 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 as the Eagles won their first European trophy.

Johnson failed to score in 26 appearance for Palace in all competitions, including 13 starts in the Premier League.

McNeil joined Everton from Burnley for £20m in July 2022, scoring 15 times in 128 games in all competitions.

Everton finished 13th in the Premier League last season, while Palace were two places below in the table, but will play in the Europa League in 2026-27 after their Conference League success.

The two sides meet at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, 22 August in the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.

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