McNeil to Palace, Johnson to Everton: What This Swap Deal Really Means for Both Clubs

Two Premier League clubs are swapping wingers and hoping it fixes a problem. Everton and Crystal Palace are in advanced talks over a deal that would send Dwight McNeil to Selhurst Park and Brennan Johnson in the opposite direction. Both clubs want it done this week, and on paper it looks like a sensible piece of business for everyone involved. But dig a little deeper and there are some real questions worth asking about both sides of this swap.

A Deal That Nearly Happened Before

This one has history attached to it. McNeil came close to joining Palace back in February, when a loan-to-buy agreement was in place and the Everton winger had already passed a medical. The deal collapsed at the last minute because the paperwork couldn't be completed in time, which led to his partner publicly calling out Palace on social media for the emotional toll it took. It was a messy situation, and it says something that both parties have been willing to put all that behind them and try again.

The fact that it's been revived, this time as a swap rather than a straight transfer, suggests Everton wanted something back rather than just selling McNeil for cash. That's a fair position to take. McNeil has been consistent for the Toffees since joining from Burnley in 2022 for £20m, contributing 15 goals in 128 appearances across all competitions. He's not a game-changer, but he's reliable and he knows the Premier League.

What Palace Are Getting and What They're Giving Up

Johnson is the more eye-catching name here. He scored the winner for Tottenham in the Europa League final against Manchester United in May, which is the kind of goal that stays on a player's CV forever. Palace then signed him for £35m in January and he played a role in their Conference League run, though he didn't score in 26 appearances and was an unused substitute in the final itself.

That's the key detail. A £35m signing who didn't find the net once for his new club, and who wasn't trusted to start the biggest game they played all season. If Palace are willing to move him on this quickly, it tells you something about how Oliver Glasner sees him fitting into what they're building.

Palace are heading into Europa League football next season after winning the Conference League, and they clearly think McNeil is better suited to what they need than Johnson was. Whether that's a tactical decision or a personality fit, we're not entirely sure, but Palace seem very certain about it.

What Everton Are Actually Signing

From Everton's perspective, getting Johnson into the building looks decent on the surface. He's 25, has experience of winning a European final, and carries genuine attacking threat when he's at his best. The Wales international has pace and directness that Everton's attack has lacked at times.

The concern is that his time at Palace produced almost nothing in terms of numbers. Thirteen Premier League starts and zero goals is not the kind of form you pay a premium for. Everton finished 13th last season, two spots above Palace, and they need players who can make an immediate impact in the Premier League rather than someone finding their feet.

The swap means Everton are essentially trading a £20m player who was dependable for a £35m player who hasn't delivered yet. That's a gamble, and it's one that reflects where Everton are as a club right now. They're trying to move up the table without spending big, so a straight exchange suits their model.

Our Read on This Deal

The two clubs meet at Hill Dickinson Stadium on 22 August in their Premier League opener. If this deal gets done this week, there's a very real chance both McNeil and Johnson line up against their former clubs on the opening weekend of the season. That alone makes this fixture one to circle on the calendar.

In terms of who wins the swap, we'd lean slightly towards Palace. McNeil is consistent, fits a wide role and gives Oliver Glasner a reliable option as they step up to Europa League competition. Johnson at Everton is a bigger unknown, and we've seen nothing from his Palace stint to suggest he's ready to carry a team.

This is one of those deals that both clubs will convince themselves is right. The Premier League will tell us which one actually got it right, and probably sooner than either of them expects.