Everton and Crystal Palace have reached an agreement on a player exchange that will see Dwight McNeil move to Selhurst Park and Brennan Johnson head to Merseyside.
Both wingers are due to complete medical examinations on Monday before finalising their transfers. Each player is expected to sign an initial four-year contract with his new club.
For McNeil, the move represents a return to a deal that came close to being completed earlier in the year. Palace had arranged a loan with an obligation to buy the 26-year-old for £20m at the beginning of February, and the winger had already undergone a medical.
The transfer collapsed at the deadline, however, after the necessary paperwork was not submitted in time. The situation caused frustration around McNeil and his family, with his partner Megan Sharpley later publicly criticising the way the failed move had been handled.
Palace have now returned for the former Burnley attacker, this time as part of a direct exchange involving Johnson.
The Wales international joined Palace from Tottenham for £35m in January. Before leaving Spurs, Johnson had produced one of the biggest moments of his career by scoring the decisive goal in the club’s 1-0 Europa League final victory over Manchester United in May 2025.
His spell at Selhurst Park proved less productive in front of goal. Johnson made 26 appearances in all competitions without scoring, including 13 Premier League starts.
The 25-year-old was nevertheless part of a successful Palace squad that reached the Conference League final. He remained on the bench during their 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, which secured the club’s first European trophy.
Johnson has also made 45 appearances for Wales and will now look to establish himself in Everton’s attack after only a few months in south London.
McNeil, meanwhile, leaves Everton four years after joining from Burnley for £20m in July 2022. He scored 15 goals across 128 appearances in all competitions during his time with the Toffees.
The exchange comes shortly before the start of the 2026-27 Premier League season. Everton finished 13th last term, while Palace ended the campaign two positions lower but earned a Europa League place through their Conference League triumph.
The timing of the transfers adds an immediate storyline to the opening weekend, with Everton scheduled to host Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, 22 August.