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Everton, Palace Swap Johnson for McNeil in Cash-Free Deal

8/11/2026

Summary

Johnson-McNeil Swap

Everton and Crystal Palace have agreed a straight swap sending Wales winger Brennan Johnson to Everton and Everton winger Dwight McNeil to Palace.
The cash-free swap gives both players four-year contracts with a 12-month extension and schedules medicals for Monday, 10 August 2026.
Johnson joined Palace in January for a reported £35 million and has not scored in 18 league games.
McNeil, signed for around £20 million in July 2022, missed a £20 million loan-to-buy move.

Summary

McNeil Transfer Collapse

McNeil's attempted transfer to a South London club collapsed on deadline day in February after administrative confusion.
The failed move caused disappointment among McNeil's camp.
Megan Sharpley posted an emotional February message condemning football's treatment of mental health and describing the withdrawn deal as an emotional rollercoaster.
The post highlighted broader concerns about mental-health neglect in professional football.

History

Historical Context

The 1995 European Court of Justice Bosman ruling ended transfer fees for out-of-contract EU players and barred discriminatory foreign-player quotas, a change first seen in moves such as Edgar Davids (1996) and Steve McManaman (1999). Today, Brennan Johnson and Dwight McNeil swap clubs without a fee, mirroring that free-movement principle; foreign-player share in Europe’s top five leagues rose from 23 % in 1990 to 71 % by 2025.

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Johnson-McNeil Swap

Everton and Crystal Palace have agreed a straight swap sending Wales winger Brennan Johnson to Everton and Everton winger Dwight McNeil to Palace.
The cash-free swap gives both players four-year contracts with a 12-month extension and schedules medicals for Monday, 10 August 2026.
Johnson joined Palace in January for a reported £35 million and has not scored in 18 league games.
McNeil, signed for around £20 million in July 2022, missed a £20 million loan-to-buy move.

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