Crystal Palace chairman contacted Dwight McNeil’s partner before transfer

Crystal Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish contacted the partner of Dwight McNeil before finalising the midfielder's transfer to the club, aiming to address tensions stemming from a collapsed deal in January. According to BBC Sport, McNeil joined Palace on Tuesday on a four-year contract as part of a swap deal that saw Brennan Johnson move to Everton. The 26-year-old had previously come close to joining Palace during the January transfer window. At that time, Palace had agreed on a loan deal with an option to buy for £20 million, which was intended to become a permanent transfer. However, the move fell through after paperwork was not completed before the deadline, despite McNeil having already undergone medical examinations. Following the cancellation, Megan Sharpley, McNeil's partner, criticised Palace on Instagram. She stated that while mental health is widely discussed, it is deemed acceptable in football to disregard players' mental wellbeing due to their high earnings. Sharpley added that McNeil had been on an emotional rollercoaster after being given promises, only to have everything taken away at the last minute without explanation. BBC Sport reports that Parish contacted Sharpley before this week's deal was completed to resolve the matter. McNeil joined Everton from Burnley for £20 million in July 2022, scoring 15 goals in 128 appearances. Regarding his new move, he said: 'The Palace players have achieved great success over the last two seasons. I want to be part of that and I am very excited to get started.' Parish described McNeil as a player with proven Premier League ability. Johnson joined Palace in January for £35 million but struggled to find form, failing to score in 26 appearances across all competitions. The Welsh winger had moved to Tottenham Hotspur from Nottingham Forest for over £45 million in 2023 and scored the winning goal in the Europa League final last May before joining Palace. Palace have won the FA Cup, Community Shield, and Europa Conference League over the last two seasons.