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

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that Crystal Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish contacted Everton midfielder Dwight McNeil’s partner before McNeil completed his move to Selhurst Park on Tuesday. The reported outreach came after a failed attempt to bring McNeil to Palace in January, when a loan-to-buy arrangement collapsed despite the player having already undergone a medical.

The January breakdown drew public criticism from McNeil’s partner, Megan Sharpley, who said on social media that the situation had been emotionally damaging and raised concerns about the impact of transfer uncertainty on players and families. BBC Sport says Parish reached out before this week’s transfer was finalised in an effort to smooth things over.

McNeil has now joined Palace on a four-year contract as part of a swap deal that sent Brennan Johnson to Everton. McNeil, 26, arrived at Everton from Burnley in 2022 and has made 128 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals. Palace described him as a proven Premier League player, while McNeil said he was excited to be part of a team that has enjoyed success in recent seasons. The episode highlights how transfer dealings can affect more than just the clubs involved, especially when previous moves fall through late in the process.