Megan Sharpley claims Dwight McNeil's transfer deadline day move to Crystal Palace broke down amid confusion and 'radio silence'
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 30: Everton's Dwight McNeil inspecting the pitch before the match during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Everton at City Ground on December 30, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Everton winger Dwight McNeil saw his transfer deadline day move to Premier League rivals Crystal Palace collapse(Image: Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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The partner of Everton winger Dwight McNeil has laid bare the torment the couple suffered as his deadline day move to Crystal Palace collapsed in the final minutes of the transfer window.
Megan Sharpley questioned the integrity of the football industry after a proposed deal fell through, stating it has “broken my heart to see how the football world you love so much can be so cruel to you”.
She claimed the prospect of a transfer ended with without “explanation”, writing on Instagram: “For it to be torn away from you at the last second, with absolutely no explanation. Going from everything - to radio silence, no phone call, no communication and be left, broken hearted with nothing but confusion, has hurt more than I can say.”
Crystal Palace are yet to comment on the events of Monday night.
McNeil shared the message with his followers and replied to the post by writing: “Whilst even now, I’m still left in the dark. What I do know and have been supported with, I am an Everton player, I will use this as motivation. I love you moo, I couldn’t thank you enough for all your effort and support.”
The ECHO understands the Blues, who believe they did what they could to facilitate the move and that it collapsed due to issues at the Palace end, plan to make support available to McNeil and his partner to help them deal with the impact of Monday night’s events.
On Instagram on Tuesday morning, the club shared an image of McNeil with his Everton team-mates and wrote: "Still one of us and a big few months ahead. Everyone at Everton is behind you, Dwight."
Sharpley, meanwhile, made positive reference to having received help from the club in previous difficult times while McNeil, as above, said he planned to use the frustration as motivation for the future.
Sharpley appeared to suggest the prospect of a move had been in the pipeline for “48 hours” and the proposed deal gathered pace in a turbulent conclusion to the transfer window.
The Blues accepted a bid that would have seen McNeil initially move to Selhurst Park on loan with the deal then being made permanent in the summer for a fee of around £20m.
Palace, who broke their club record to sign Wolves forward Jorgen Strand Larsen but saw the sale of Jean-Philippe Mateta to AC Milan fall through on a busy deadline day, submitted a deal sheet as they worked to finalise the deal in in the two-hour period of grace that followed the 7pm soft deadline, but once those hours passed by it became clear the move had failed to progress.
The ECHO understands there are concerns within Everton at how the deal collapsed, with club chiefs believing they had worked towards making the move possible.
McNeil will now remain a Blues player until the end of the season and work towards helping David Moyes in his bid to take the club into Europe.
As well as now being able to count on McNeil, Moyes will also be able to utilise England youth international Tyrique George after the club signed the winger on loan from Chelsea after submitting a deal sheet of their own.
*The ECHO has contacted Crystal Palace for comment
Megan Sharpley’s full statement
“Dwight. I’ve always been in awe of your job, the way you’ve committed most of your life to achieve what only the 0.1% achieve. I know you love your job, the sport and you know how lucky you are to do what most people only dreams of.
“We appreciate our lives, how fortunate we are, and the millions of football fans that keep the game alive and ultimately keep you in a job you adore.
“You've sacrificed a lot and most people don’t have much of an idea of the difficult hardships you’ve suffered and dealt with in your personal life. And we crack on, that’s who we are, we appreciate how blessed our lives are.
“But the world doesn't seem to accept that someone as fortunate as you is allowed to suffer hardships and feel sad. But you're a human, a beautiful incredible 26 year old human being. And no matter about money or the success you've worked so hard to achieve, you are allowed to feel.
“Tonight, and the last 48 hours, have broken my heart to see how the football world you love so much can be so cruel to you.
“To have something promised to you, you have been dragged along an emotional rollercoaster, and to be toyed with until the final minute. To have 4 and a half years of your life promised to you, travelling, medicals, agreements made…promises made. To have prepared to move your entire life, our life’s 100 of miles away in the space of a few hours.
“For it to be torn away from you at the last second, with absolutely no explanation. Going from everything - to radio silence, no phone call, no communication and be left, broken hearted with nothing but confusion, has hurt more than I can say.
“I sit with you, knowing in my heart and deep into my soul that you will bounce back from this. I am your biggest supporter. And I know you will overcome this with a fire in your belly and a motivation that no one can stop. I have already seen it tonight, even whilst you're facing the lowest point of your career.
“We live in a world where everyone is aware how big of a problem mental health is. So in football, why do we find it acceptable, because these young men are on a lot of money, that it’s okay to mess and toy with their mental health and that’s just 'part of the job'?
“No matter of money, we all deserve to be treated with respect, kindness and fairly.
“So I really question the industry tonight. I only hope there's more done in the future to protect people from situations like what I've witnessed tonight. Football is brutal and yes, it’s the nature of the beast, but messing with human beings feelings and emotions shouldn't be acceptable.
“People only see one side on the media, you don't see the tears, the emotion and the distress I've seen tonight.
"Dwight, to the present, and the future. Every single thing happens for a reason. I will always believe what is meant for you will find you, and with your hard work and determination I'll never doubt only the best will come your way, and I'm so excited to see what you can achieve.
“So here's to carrying on being an Everton player. The support we've had from this club, especially during my illness, has meant a lot on our journey, so let's keep grinding, keep working and grafting for this badge. Let's keep going Dwight, show them who you are. I'm right by your side."