Barely four months after he joined Crystal Palace, Brennan Johnson was part of a squad lifting a European trophy. But having called time early on his spell at Selhurst Park, the flying Wales international winger is targeting an end to Everton's record-breaking silverware drought.
So long as we’re discounting their Zenith Data Systems Cup triumph in 1991 when they defeated Everton 4-1 after extra-time and the Blues’ most decorated player Neville Southall refused to climb the Wembley steps to collect his runners-up medal, the Eagles hadn’t won a major trophy until they overcame Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the 2025 FA Cup final.
However, under Oliver Glasner, they then followed up that success with the UEFA Conference League, the competition that David Moyes steered West Ham United to success in to end the Irons’ 43-year wait, by defeating Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in Leipzig on May 27.
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Johnson, who scored the winning goal for Tottenham Hotspur 12 months earlier as they defeated Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao, remained on the bench for the Eagles as this time Jean-Phillipe Mateta broke the deadlock. But he still got his hands on another medal having featured in seven matches in their European campaign.
With the longest-ever silverware drought in Everton’s history now having extended into a 32nd year, Johnson is hoping that his Midas touch can rub off on his new team-mates.
Asked what success would look like for him on Merseyside, the 25-year-old said: “Ultimately, trophies. I think the club is capable of it; the fanbase, the staff, the players, I think it’s a massive club.
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“I’m really kind of positive as well in my own play and I’ve been really fortunate to have some incredible moments in football already. I’m really confident that this club can be successful and I want to be part of that, I’m really hungry to be part of that.
“I think that’s the overall objective for everyone at the club, I think the fanbase deserves it. So, it’s down to us as a club to try and deliver that.”
Although Johnson failed to score in any of his 26 matches for Palace, he hit 18 goals for Tottenham as recently as 2024/25 and registered double figures in three seasons in a row for Lincoln City on loan and then in back-to-back campaigns for Nottingham Forest.
Coming on as one of seven substitutes that were introduced at once in the 64th minute to make his debut against Lille on Saturday, he had a couple of big opportunities to score and believes he can soon get back among the goals.
Asked if he believes he can bring a different dimension than Everton’s other wingers, Johnson said: “I hope so. I think that’s the objective with having so many wide players.
“Everyone has their own individual game styles. The lads that are here already have looked really, really impressive since I’ve been here and training with them and watching them, everyone kind of brings something different and that’s what I want to bring.
“I want to bring my own individuality and give the team something different. Try and score, try and assist and be as direct and positive as I can.
He added: “It was really promising, I think. It was an incredible feeling to play in front of the fans at this stadium as it’s an amazing stadium and just makes me excited to play more.
“It was obviously frustrating not to score today, but it was a really good experience trying to see how the lads play. We obviously got some really good players and hopefully I can get on the end of some chances.
“I think it’s an exciting time to be at Everton, I think the stadium is incredible and the squad is strong. We want to try and build on what the lads did last season and try and get as many points as possible.
“I think it’s a really good feeling playing in front of these fans at the stadium. I know it wasn’t full today, but I kind of got a glimpse of what it’s like.
“I’m so excited to have the fans on my side. I just want to do everything I can to put smiles on their faces and try to be as successful as possible.”
For Johnson, the switch to Everton represents a second move in the same calendar year having joined Palace for a then club record £35million on January 2.
Explaining what Moyes said to convince him to come to Merseyside, Johnson said: “He kind of just told me he wants me to be me and get back to what I can do best.
“It was a good conversation, really positive conversation. I think obviously he expects things from me and I expect the same from myself. So, I think we were kind of aligned on that conversation and I just want to bring the best I can to Everton.
“I think it was just kind of wanting me to bring my ‘A game’ here. I think he thought that the way that I play, the way that I played previously can help the team.
“I think that was most important for me, trying to help the team and kind of bring what I can do and make an addition to the attacking line.
“I think it’s down to me at the end of the day. I’m just trying to be as confident as I can and play as positively as I can.
“I need to just do what I know I can do because at the end of the day, I’ve shown what I can do and I want to continue that.”
Johnson has no regrets about his short spell with Palace and remains unfazed by the prospect of facing them in his competitive debut for teh Blues in their first game of the 2026/27 Premier League season at Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday. He said: “It’s just a learning curve.
“I don’t think there’s been many footballers who have just had easy careers where it’s just got better and better and better. I look back at it with fond memories because I think winning a European competition, I can’t look at it too badly.
“I was really lucky to be there and I felt an honour to play for that club as well and represent them in Europe as well. I look back at it with a lot of thanks to Crystal Palace and especially the desire they had to bring me in.
“But it’s a new stage now. I’m really happy to be here and I want to be as successful as I can here because I know that the squad is capable of it.
“It’s just kind of the life of a football player. Things happen, people play for different teams.
“The summer kind of gives you more time to reflect. But it’s really nice to be here in pre-season to get a real feel for the lads.
“It’s football, things can happen. I’m really, really excited to be here.
“I think if it was the first time changing teams, it (facing his previous club first) would be really weird. But obviously I’ve been at Forest, Tottenham, Palace and now Everton, and I’ve played against former teams before.
“In terms of the timeline, obviously I was only there two weeks ago. It’s a little bit fresh.
“But it’s just one of the things in football, I’m really excited to play for this club, first and foremost. It’s kind of the way football works that we’re playing against Palace in the first game.”