Everton and Crystal Palace have finalized a player swap involving wingers Brennan Johnson and Dwight McNeil, the two Premier League clubs confirmed on Tuesday.
Johnson, a Wales international, has committed to a four-year contract with Everton under manager David Moyes. The 25-year-old had only recently joined Crystal Palace in January, moving from Tottenham Hotspur for a reported £35 million ($47 million). Despite his recent arrival, Johnson was part of Palace’s squad that secured the UEFA Conference League title, although he remained an unused substitute in the final. This followed his memorable moment the previous year, when he netted the winning goal for Spurs in their Europa League final triumph.
Expressing enthusiasm about his new club, Johnson told Everton TV, “There were a lot of reasons why I was so keen to join – the manager, the players, the direction the team is going in. You can see this is a club that wants to go in the right direction, and I’m a player who wants to go in that direction too, so it feels like a really good match.”
McNeil’s Move to Crystal Palace
Meanwhile, 26-year-old Dwight McNeil has agreed to a four-year contract with Crystal Palace. The former England under-21 international had previously been linked with a move to the Eagles during the January transfer window, but negotiations fell through at the time.
Reflecting on his transfer, McNeil shared on the Crystal Palace website, “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.”
Last season, Everton concluded the Premier League campaign in 13th position, narrowly finishing two places above Crystal Palace. This swap deal between the clubs presents both players with an opportunity to contribute to their new teams’ ambitions moving forward.