McNeil and Johnson Swap: A Strategic Move for Everton and Palace
Everton and Crystal Palace have shaken hands on one of the more intriguing deals of the summer – a straight swap of Dwight McNeil and Brennan Johnson, with both players now heading for medicals and four-year contracts that include an option for a fifth.
No add-ons, no drawn-out auction, no drama over fees. Just two clubs deciding that what they already have no longer quite fits, and that the other man’s misfit might be exactly what they need.
McNeil finally gets his Palace move
For McNeil, this is the move that slipped through his fingers once already.
Palace pushed hard for him in January, only for the deal to collapse on deadline day when the paperwork didn’t land in time. Now, months later, the 26-year-old is finally on his way to Selhurst Park.
His Everton story has never been straightforward. There have been spells when he looked central to everything, a key outlet and creator. Then came the shift under David Moyes. His influence faded, his minutes dipped, and with only a year left on his contract, the club faced a familiar Premier League dilemma: cash in now, or risk losing a saleable asset for nothing next summer.
Everton chose the former, but with a twist. Instead of a simple sale, they’ve turned McNeil into a direct route to a long-standing target.
Johnson’s Palace struggle opens the door
Brennan Johnson only arrived at Palace in January for £35 million, a sizeable outlay and a statement that he was meant to be a forward to build around.
It never happened.
Across 26 appearances in all competitions last season, the Wales international didn’t score once. For a player whose game is built on direct running and end product, the numbers told their own story. Confidence drained, form deserted him, and Selhurst Park never really saw the version of Johnson that lit up previous campaigns.
That version exists, though. The 25-year-old has 27 goals in 107 games from his time at Tottenham, and he hit 18 goals in all competitions in the 2024/25 season alone for Spurs. Before that, he showed his cutting edge at Nottingham Forest. There is a proven finisher in there, not just a nearly man.
Palace, looking at a high earner stuck in a rut, have chosen a clean break. Rather than testing the market and haggling over a fee, they’ve moved quickly to bring in a player they already know they like – and clear significant wages at the same time.
Wages, risk and reward
Johnson’s contract at Palace is hefty. £130,000 per week hefty.
Getting that off the books matters. It frees up space for Palace to reshape the squad, and it removes the pressure of carrying a big earner who isn’t delivering. In return, they land McNeil, a player they nearly signed six months ago and who fits the profile they’ve been chasing on the flank.
Everton, on the other hand, are prepared to lean into the risk.
If they match Johnson’s Palace salary – which is not yet confirmed – he instantly becomes one of the highest earners at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. That’s a big financial commitment for a club that has to be careful, and it only makes sense if Moyes can unlock the Tottenham and Forest version of Johnson, not the Palace one.
But that’s exactly the bet Everton are making. They’ve tracked him for years, through changes in recruitment staff and managers, and their interest hasn’t cooled. They see a forward with pace, movement, and a track record of scoring at the highest level, who just needs the right environment to spark again.
If Moyes gets him firing, the numbers speak for themselves. Replicate anything close to those 18 Spurs goals in an Everton shirt this season, and Johnson doesn’t just justify his wages – he changes the trajectory of their attack.
Why it suits both sides
Strip it back, and the logic is clear.
Everton avoid losing McNeil for nothing in a year, bring in a player they have admired for a long time, and take a calculated gamble that a change of scenery will restore Johnson’s edge. Palace swap an out-of-form, high-earning forward for a winger they have long wanted, while easing the wage bill and resetting the balance of their squad.
Both clubs needed a reset in those positions. Both players needed a fresh start.
Now it comes down to whether McNeil can finally become the wide threat Palace thought they were getting in January, and whether Johnson can turn Everton’s faith – and possibly their biggest wage packet – into goals that actually move the needle.
