Crystal Palace have signed winger, Dwight McNeil from Everton in a swap deal with Brennan Johnson.
McNeil came close to securing a move to Selhurst Park on deadline day in January’s transfer window only for the transfer to collapse due to unfinished paperwork.
Palace have since returned to the Toffees with an alternative offer of a swap which has seen Brennan Johnson go to Everton after just eight months with the Eagles, with both players having signed four-year contracts until June 2030 with their respective new clubs.
McNeil consequently in return has finally joined Palace after four seasons on Merseyside across which he produced 15 goals and 19 assists in 128 appearances.
Speaking to cpfc.co.uk about his switch, McNeil said: “I’m really happy to be here, and looking forward to the challenge ahead.
“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.”
Chairman, Steve Parish added; “It is wonderful to finally welcome Dwight – a player with proven ability in the Premier League – to South London. I’m looking forward to seeing him in action at Selhurst Park.”
McNeil began his career at Manchester United in their youth academy but was released in 2014 and swiftly signed by Burnley, where he graduated through their academy and made his senior debut in May 2018 as a substitute in a 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth on the final day of 2017-18 Premier League season.
He subsequently went on to produce seven goals and 17 assists in 147 senior appearances for Burnley, before he joined Everton in July 2022 after the Clarets were relegated to the Championship.
Across four years at Goodison Park, McNeil scored 15 goals and contributed 19 assists in 128 total appearances as the Toffees often battled for Premier Leave survival.
Johnson meanwhile has left Palace following an eight-month spell in which he only produced two assists and no goals in 26 appearances following his move from Tottenham in January.
In his first interview with evertontv., Johnson explained that he was happy to make the swap and feels confident that he and the club are aligned in their ambitions under David Moyes.
“I’m so excited to be here. The Club speaks for itself – it’s a massive club and one that when I first heard of the interest, I immediately wanted to come and be part of it.
“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.
“I want to come in and show what I can do. The manager spoke to me about getting back to the form that I’ve shown previously, and that’s a massive thing for me – the fact he knows and believes in what I can do. For me, listening to him – a manager who is so experienced and someone who has been so successful – it was really nice to hear.
“I want to bring all of my attributes. First and foremost, I’ll work for the team, the fans, and represent the Club properly. I know that’s something that’s definitely appreciated and a non-negotiable here. They can expect that from me. On top of that, I think I can bring speed, goals and everything I’ve got.
“The incredible fanbase that Everton has, whether it’s home or away, is something I’ve always felt. It’s a massive honour to be here and play for them now.”
Leave a Reply