Crystal Palace and Everton agree swap: Dwight McNeil to Palace, Brennan Johnson to Everton

Crystal Palace and Everton have agreed a straight swap for Brennan Johnson and Dwight McNeil at Selhurst Park on 10 August 2026. Both players are understood to have agreed four year contracts with the option of a further 12 months.

Johnson became Palace’s record signing in January when he joined from Tottenham for £35m, only to be surpassed a few weeks later by the arrival of Jørgen Strand Larsen from Wolves for an initial £43m. McNeil, who has entered the final year of his Everton contract, had appeared set to move to Selhurst Park in February after Palace agreed a £20m fee on transfer deadline day.

The collapse of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s £30m move to Milan, after the France striker failed a medical, prompted Palace to change their offer to an initial loan with an obligation to buy. They submitted a deal sheet to the Premier League but then pulled out, and McNeil’s partner, Megan Sharpley, said there had been "radio silence" from Palace and that the player’s mental health had been impacted.

Sharpley wrote in an emotional post on Instagram: "Tonight, and the last 48 hours, have broken my heart to see how the football world you love so much can be so cruel to you." She added: "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 okay to mess and toy with their mental health and that it’s just part of the job?"

Johnson has failed to score in 18 Premier League appearances since moving to south London. He signed a four-and-a-half-year contract in January that is believed to be worth more than £100,000 a week, and Palace will take a significant hit on the fee they paid while removing one of their highest earners from the wage bill.

Palace are also set to finalise a deal to sign Anan Khalaili from Union Saint-Gilloise for £21m; the Israel right-back had his medical on Sunday and is expected to sign a five-year contract in south London. The 21-year-old’s move to Internazionale broke down last month after he failed a medical.

Both Johnson and McNeil are expected to have medicals on Monday, and Palace remain poised to complete the Khalaili transfer.