Palace co-owner spoke to McNeil's partner before move

On Tuesday, Crystal Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish reached out to Dwight McNeil's partner prior to the midfielder's move to the club. McNeil has inked a four-year contract with Palace after the two sides swapped players in a deal. Everton midfielder Brennan Johnson joined Palace in a £35m transfer in January, but struggled to find his feet, making only 26 appearances without a goal.

Meanwhile, McNeil, 26, had previously been linked with a loan-to-buy deal with Palace in January, which would have been a £20m permanent move, but the transfer fell through due to incomplete paperwork. McNeil's partner Megan Sharpley criticized Palace on Instagram, questioning the treatment of young players' mental health in football.

Parish contacted McNeil's partner to help mend any strained relations before the recent transfer was finalized. McNeil, who joined Everton from Burnley for £20m in July 2022 and scored 15 goals in 128 games, expressed his excitement about joining Palace, a club he sees as a destination with a successful recent history. Parish praised McNeil as a player with proven ability in the Premier League.