In a significant transfer deal, Everton has secured the services of winger Brennan Johnson from Crystal Palace, with Dwight McNeil moving in the opposite direction to Selhurst Park. Both players have agreed to four-year contracts. Johnson's departure from Palace comes after only joining the club in January from Tottenham for £35m. However, Palace has managed to sign McNeil, a player they were close to acquiring on Deadline Day in the same window, but the move fell through due to paperwork issues.
Johnson, 25, becomes the fifth summer signing for David Moyes' Everton, following the additions of Merlin Rohl, Hayden Hackney, Tyrique George, and Christian Norgaard. McNeil, 26, joins defenders Oscar Mingueza and Takehiro Tomiyasu as Palace's summer signings, after the club sold centre-back Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea. Johnson expressed his excitement about joining Everton, stating, "I'm thrilled to be here. The club is a massive institution, and when I first heard of their interest, I immediately wanted to be a part of it.
I was drawn to the club for many reasons - the manager, the players, and the team's direction. It feels like a great match for me, as I'm a player who wants to move in the right direction, and this club shares that ambition." Johnson aims to bring his attributes to the team, including speed, goals, and a strong work ethic, and is eager to represent the club and its fans properly. Palace chairman Steve Parish had positive discussions with McNeil and his partner Megan Sharpley ahead of the deal, which helped to clear the air after Sharpley criticized the club's handling of McNeil's failed move in January. McNeil scored 15 goals and provided 18 assists in 130 appearances for Everton and is looking forward to the challenge ahead with Palace.