**Everton** and **Crystal Palace** have confirmed a direct swap deal, exchanging **Dwight McNeil** for **Brennan Johnson**. No additional fee is to be paid by either club.
Dwight McNeil has been at the Toffees since 2022, signing and thriving, especially under **Sean Dyche**. Since the arrival of **David Moyes**, though, the 26-year-old has been handed a scarce number of appearances.
McNeil's failed Palace move last January
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Everton, McNeil, and Palace had agreed a deal in principle on January deadline day for the winger to make a permanent move to the **West London club**.
The reported fee was approximately **£20m**, to be paid following a loan with an obligation to buy. A four-year contract was proposed and a medical was completed.
The move eventually collapsed, with the cause completely out of Everton's and McNeil's hands.
Jean-Philippe Mateta's failed AC Milan move
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It was certainly a busy January deadline day at Palace's training ground, as both McNeil and **Mateta** deals were progressing simultaneously.
Mateta was set for a move to **AC Milan**, where all contract terms were agreed. During the medical, the Serie A giants noticed some concerns, and the move fell through.
Due to the failed move, Palace requested a change in McNeil's transfer structure, which the Blues rejected. This left Palace's deadline day extremely anticlimactic.
Johnson and McNeil's poor recent form
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Fortunately for Palace fans, _the Eagles_ are back in the running for the winger they want.
Shipping off Brennan Johnson does not seem like a bad idea for Palace, especially if the 25-year-old's form is anything to go by.
Since joining in January, Johnson has managed **2 assists in 26 appearances**, not good going for a **£35m** signing. Moving the player on in 7 months on may ring some alarm bells for Everton, but perhaps the _Toffees_' equivalent has been just as impressive recently.
McNeil spent four years on Merseyside, making **122 appearances**, and had become well integrated into this Everton side.
The introduction of [Jack Grealish and **Tyrique George**](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2026/06/19/everton/1263890-everton-25-26-player-ratings.html) made left-wing competition difficult, and eventually Dwight McNeil fell out of favour.
What Johnson can bring that McNeil cannot
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Brennan Johnson can bring something different compared to McNeil. Johnson is a proven goalscorer at **Premier League** level, especially during the winger's time at **Nottingham Forest**, collecting **41 goals and assists** whilst at the **East Midlands** side. This is something evidently vacant in McNeil's repertoire.
Johnson is levels ahead of McNeil in terms of pace and transition agility, and with the clear injection of energy through younger recruits this summer, Everton are sure to benefit from the Welsh international's hunger.
Dwight McNeil's repetitive nature, and ability to perform pinpoint-accurate crosses, are something many managers' tactical systems may favour, but clearly not **David Moyes'**.
A divergent attacking profile will bring a new style of winger, one that Moyes may love, and one that Evertonians may love as well.