Brennan Johnson and Dwight McNeil Swap: A Fresh Start
Brennan Johnson has barely had time to unpack his bags in south London. Eight months after Crystal Palace broke their transfer record with a £35 million move from Tottenham, the Wales international is gone – shipped to Everton on a four-year deal in one of the Premier League’s rare straight swap transfers.
Heading the other way, Dwight McNeil. Once the great hope at Burnley, now a winger in need of a reset at Selhurst Park.
Both arrive at their new clubs with something to prove. The numbers tell you why.
Two wingers, two stalled seasons
Johnson’s Palace stint never caught fire. Twenty-six appearances in all competitions, not a single goal. For a forward signed for that kind of fee, it quickly became a brutal statistic that defined his time in south London.
McNeil did not fare any better. The 26-year-old, long talked up as a potential star during his Burnley days, also failed to score last season, drawing a blank in 25 outings for Everton. The spark that once made him such a dangerous outlet seemed to fade at Goodison Park.
So when the swap deal dropped, it was always going to provoke a reaction.
O’Hara and Agbonlahor let rip
Live on talkSPORT, former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara and ex-Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor dissected the move – and they did not sugarcoat it.
"I like Dwight McNeil," O’Hara said. "Brennan Johnson has been a myth for a few seasons. He didn’t do it at Spurs. He hides in games."
Agbonlahor then went straight for the numbers. He pointed to their output last season, or rather the lack of it, stressing how few goals and assists either man produced. "It’s a bit like ‘you give us him and we’ll give you him!’" he said.
The tone only got harsher as the segment went on. The pair laughed as O’Hara delivered the line that would go viral: "We’ll give you crap, we’ll give you crap back!"
That clip, once posted to Instagram, flew. So did Brennan Johnson’s response.
Johnson hits back
No long statement. No PR-filtered message. Just eight words in the comments, sharp as a jab: "Won more than both of these put together."
It was a pointed reminder of his honours column compared to two outspoken pundits, and it landed with fans who felt the criticism had gone too far.
The exchange didn’t end there. With the clip bouncing around social media, O’Hara moved to clarify his stance on X the following morning, insisting the short video did not show the full context of the discussion.
"This [is] the [problem] when you only listen to a clip and not full story," he wrote. He stressed they were talking about last season’s numbers, not writing off the players entirely. "We were talking about Brennan and McNeil’s stats from last season which were CRAP not that they were bad players. I’m a fan of McNeill and also said Brennan has all the attributes but he would admit his season was crap."
The message was clear: harsh on the output, not on the talent.
Fresh starts, immediate scrutiny
Now the noise fades and the reality kicks in.
Johnson heads to the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a big fee behind him, a bigger point to prove and a manager in David Moyes who demands work, discipline and end product. At 25, this move feels pivotal. He needs goals. He needs assists. He needs to turn that “myth” tag into something far more tangible.
McNeil, meanwhile, gets his own reboot in London. Selhurst Park has long been a place where wingers can thrive, and Palace will hope a change of scenery unlocks the left-footer who once terrorised full-backs at Burnley. His technique has never been in doubt. His confidence has.
There is no gentle bedding-in period for either of them.
Everton and Crystal Palace meet on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season, throwing Johnson and McNeil straight into a reunion with the clubs they have just left. No time to hide, no time to ease into new colours.
Two careers at a crossroads. One fixture to set the tone.
