Everton and Crystal Palace have agreed to a player swap, with medicals for Dwight McNeil and Brennan Johnson set to begin today. The transfer comes six months after McNeil's partner accused Palace of 'playing with the mental health' of players.
Everton and Crystal Palace have reached an agreement for a direct player swap. Dwight McNeil is moving to Selhurst Park, while Brennan Johnson will continue his career in an Everton shirt. The news was confirmed on Monday, August 10, 2026, by renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano with his famous phrase "here we go," with details provided by the Guardian Sport.
Both players have agreed to four-year contracts with an option for an additional 12 months. Medicals are expected to take place as early as today.
This transfer carries particular weight due to events from six months ago. Namely, McNeil was already on the verge of moving to the London club in February 2026. Crystal Palace had agreed on a £20 million fee for Everton's winger on transfer deadline day. However, things became complicated when the transfer of Jean-Philippe Mateta to Milan fell through. The French striker failed his medical, and the failed £30 million deal forced Palace to withdraw their offer for McNeil.
The club then attempted to change the terms, offering a loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season, but ultimately completely abandoned the agreement. This sparked a strong reaction from McNeil's partner, Megan Sharpley, who spoke out on Instagram about the impact the entire situation had on the player.
"Tonight, and over the last 48 hours, it has broken my heart to watch how the football world you love so much can be so cruel to you. We live in a world where everyone is aware of how big a problem mental health is. So why in football do we consider it acceptable, just because these young men earn a lot of money, that it's okay to play with their mental health and that it's simply part of the job?" Sharpley wrote at the time.
On the other hand, Brennan Johnson arrived at Crystal Palace in January 2026 as a record signing from Tottenham for £35 million. That record was soon broken by the arrival of Jørgen Strand Larsen from Wolves for an initial £43 million. Despite a lucrative four-year contract that earned him over £100,000 a week, Johnson's performance was disappointing. In 18 Premier League appearances, he failed to score a single goal.
With this swap, Palace offloads one of its highest-paid players and takes a significant financial hit on the transfer fee, while Everton gets the opportunity to revitalize the career of the 23-year-old Welsh international.
