Palace chairman Steve Parish contacted McNeil’s partner before transfer

Crystal Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish contacted Dwight McNeil’s partner, Megan Sharpley, on Tuesday ahead of McNeil’s move to the club, BBC Sport reports. McNeil has completed a transfer to Palace and signed a four-year contract in a swap deal that saw Brennan Johnson move to Everton.

Palace had agreed a loan-to-buy arrangement for McNeil in the January window that would have become a £20m permanent move, but the transfer collapsed when the necessary paperwork could not be finalised in time despite McNeil having passed a medical. After that breakdown Sharpley criticised Palace on Instagram, writing: "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." BBC Sport understands Parish reached out to smooth things over before this week's deal was completed.

McNeil moved to Everton from Burnley in July 2022 for £20m and scored 15 goals in 128 appearances for the Toffees. Palace’s recent trophy haul includes the FA Cup, Community Shield and Uefa Conference League over the last two seasons.

Parish described McNeil as "a player with proven ability in the Premier League" in comments to the club. Johnson, meanwhile, had signed for Palace in a £35m deal in January but struggled for form, making 26 appearances in all competitions without scoring.

Before his spell at Palace, Johnson joined Tottenham Hotspur from Nottingham Forest for a fee in excess of £45m in 2023 and scored their winning goal in the Europa League final last May prior to moving to the Eagles.

"The lads have had some great success over the last two seasons. It's something that I want to be a part of, so I'm really looking forward to getting started," McNeil said.