Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish initiated contact with Megan Sharpley, the partner of midfielder Dwight McNeil, prior to finalizing the player’s recent transfer to the club. McNeil has now signed a four-year agreement with Palace as part of a swap deal that saw Brennan Johnson move to Everton.
The 26-year-old had previously faced a difficult situation in January when a proposed loan-to-buy move to Selhurst Park collapsed due to missed administrative deadlines. Despite having completed a medical examination, the £20m permanent transfer failed, leading Sharpley to voice her frustration on social media. She highlighted the emotional toll the last-minute cancellation had on the player, questioning the treatment of athletes’ mental health during transfer processes.
According to reports, Parish reached out to resolve these tensions before this week’s agreement was finalized. McNeil, who joined Everton from Burnley in 2022 and recorded 15 goals in 128 appearances, expressed his excitement about joining a successful team. Palace chairman Parish described McNeil as a proven talent within the Premier League. Brennan Johnson, who moved to Everton in this exchange, had previously struggled at Palace after a £35m transfer in January, failing to score in 26 appearances.
