Brennan Johnson — 25 years old, Wales international with 45 caps, former Tottenham and Nottingham Forest winger — has joined Everton from Crystal Palace in a straight swap deal that sends Dwight McNeil the other way. Both players have signed four-year contracts until 2030.
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The Deal Confirmed
Everton and Crystal Palace completed the rare Premier League player-exchange on 11 August 2026. Johnson has signed a four-year deal at Everton, while McNeil has agreed terms with Palace running until 2030.
No additional transfer fee was reported in the pure swap. Johnson becomes Everton’s latest attacking addition under the current regime, while McNeil heads to Selhurst Park after nearly joining the Eagles on a temporary basis earlier in 2026.
The clubs face each other on the opening weekend of the 2026/27 Premier League season at Hill Dickinson Stadium on 22 August.
Brennan Johnson’s Path to Everton
Johnson joined Crystal Palace from Tottenham Hotspur in January 2026 for a then-club-record £35 million. In six months at Selhurst Park he made 26 appearances across all competitions but failed to score, registering limited goal contributions.
Prior to that, the Wales forward was Spurs’ top scorer in the 2024/25 season with 18 goals and scored the winning goal in the UEFA Europa League final in May 2025. He originally rose at Nottingham Forest, helping them stay in the Premier League, before a move to Tottenham in 2023 for a fee in excess of £45 million.
Johnson, who has 45 caps for Wales, said of the Everton switch: “I’m so excited to be here. 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.”
He added that Everton has “the ambition to win trophies — and I believe we can do it.”
| Brennan Johnson — Key Career Numbers | Figures |
|---|---|
| Age | 25 (born 23 May 2001) |
| Nationality | Wales (45 caps) |
| Position | Winger / Forward |
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Crystal Palace Apps (2026) | 26 |
| Crystal Palace Goals | 0 |
| Tottenham Goals (2024/25) | 18 (club top scorer) |
| Europa League Final Winner | 2025 (scoring goal) |
| Forest to Spurs Fee (2023) | £45m+ |
| Spurs to Palace Fee (Jan 2026) | £35m |
| Everton Contract | 4 years to 2030 |
Dwight McNeil’s Everton Exit
McNeil, 26, leaves Everton after four seasons. He made 128 appearances in all competitions for the Toffees, scoring 15 goals and providing 19 assists after joining from Burnley in July 2022 for around £20 million.
In the Premier League alone he recorded 114 appearances and 14 goals. His 2025/26 campaign was more limited (around 22–25 appearances, 0 goals and 1 assist in some reports), partly due to fitness issues.
McNeil was close to a loan-to-buy move to Palace in February 2026 that would have become permanent for £20 million, but paperwork delays scuppered the deal after he had passed a medical.
On joining Palace he said: “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.”
Palace chairman Steve Parish described him as “a player with proven ability in the Premier League.”
| Dwight McNeil — Key Career Numbers | Figures |
|---|---|
| Age | 26 (born 22 November 1999) |
| Nationality | England |
| Position | Winger |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Preferred Foot | Left |
| Everton Apps (All Comps) | 128 |
| Everton Goals / Assists | 15 / 19 |
| Everton PL Apps / Goals | 114 / 14 |
| Burnley Apps (All Comps) | 147 |
| Burnley Goals / Assists | 7 / 17 |
| Everton Transfer Fee (2022) | ≈ £20m |
| Palace Contract | 4 years to 2030 |
Career Club Timeline — Brennan Johnson (Primary Focus)
| Club | Period | Apps (approx.) | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nottingham Forest | 2019–2023 | 91+ | 24+ |
| Lincoln City (loan) | 2020–21 | 40+ | 10+ |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2023–2026 | 80+ | 18+ |
| Crystal Palace | Jan–Aug 2026 | 26 | 0 |
| Everton | 2026– | 0 | 0 |
Why the Swap Makes Sense
Johnson arrives at Everton seeking regular minutes and a fresh start after a goalless spell at Palace. His pace, directness and proven Premier League and European pedigree (including that Europa League final strike) offer attacking threat.
McNeil brings set-piece quality, crossing ability and Premier League experience to a Palace side that has enjoyed recent success (FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League titles in recent seasons). The swap allows both clubs to refresh their wide options without major cash outlay.
Everton finished 13th last season; Palace finished 15th but secured European football via the Conference League win.
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FAQs
What are the terms of the Brennan Johnson–Dwight McNeil swap?
It is a straight player exchange. Johnson joins Everton and McNeil joins Crystal Palace. Both have signed four-year contracts running until 2030. No additional transfer fee was reported.
How did Brennan Johnson perform at Crystal Palace?
In 26 appearances after his January 2026 arrival for £35 million he scored 0 goals.
What are Dwight McNeil’s numbers at Everton?
McNeil made 128 appearances, scoring 15 goals and providing 19 assists after joining from Burnley in 2022.
Why did Johnson leave Palace so soon?
After a goalless spell and limited impact, both clubs saw mutual benefit in the swap to refresh their attacking options.
When do the clubs next meet?
Everton host Crystal Palace on 22 August 2026, the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
