One of the more unexpected pieces of business this summer was confirmed on Tuesday as Everton and Crystal Palace completed a straight swap deal. Brennan Johnson moves to Goodison Park, while Dwight McNeil heads south to Selhurst Park.
Johnson, 23, spent last season at Crystal Palace after his arrival from Nottingham Forest. Though he showed flashes of genuine quality, a regular starting spot proved difficult to pin down under Oliver Glasner. The Welsh international is direct, energetic, and technically capable — and David Moyes clearly sees untapped potential waiting to be unlocked at Everton.
"I believe in this club and this project," Johnson said after putting pen to paper. "The fans deserve to see what I can bring. I am ready to hit the ground running."
At 23, he has time on his side. Johnson is a regular for Wales at international level, which tells you a great deal about his quality when afforded a run of games. Under Moyes — a manager with a strong track record of extracting the best from wide players — he has the right conditions to flourish.
McNeil, 25, makes the reverse journey to London. The Burnley academy product had five solid years at Everton, bringing consistency and reliability on the left flank. But consistency without that extra gear to unlock defences was ultimately the story of his time at Goodison. Crystal Palace, with their fast, direct attacking philosophy, could give McNeil the licence to be a threat in a different way.
Crucially, neither club spends a penny. With Premier League sustainability rules tightening their grip, a fee-free swap that refreshes both squads is a clever piece of work from both clubs' recruitment teams.
The new Premier League season is almost here. Both Johnson and McNeil will be desperate to prove a point to their former clubs when the two sides meet later in the campaign.
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