Everton and Crystal Palace have completed one of the most unusual transfer deals of the summer, with Brennan Johnson and Dwight McNeil swapping clubs in a straight player exchange.
Johnson has joined Everton on a four-year contract, while McNeil has also signed a four-year deal with Crystal Palace. The agreement brings an unexpected end to Johnson’s short spell at Selhurst Park, where he had only arrived in January.
Palace had paid around £35 million to sign Johnson from Tottenham, making him their record signing at the time. However, the Welsh winger struggled to make a major impact, failing to score in his Premier League appearances for the club.
Everton, meanwhile, are hoping Johnson can rediscover the form that made him such an exciting attacking player during his time at Nottingham Forest and Tottenham. His pace and ability to attack space could give David Moyes another dangerous option in the final third.
For Palace, McNeil represents a different kind of attacking option. The 26-year-old spent four seasons at Everton after joining from Burnley and leaves having made 128 appearances, scoring 15 goals and providing 19 assists.
The deal is particularly interesting because the two clubs are not simply exchanging players temporarily. Both transfers are permanent, with each player committing to his new club for four years.
It is a rare type of deal in modern Premier League football and gives both players the opportunity for a fresh start. Johnson will now look to revive his career on Merseyside, while McNeil gets another chance to establish himself at Palace.
With Everton and Crystal Palace scheduled to face each other early in the new Premier League season, there could hardly be a more interesting opportunity for both players to show their former clubs what they can do.
