Dwight McNeil's escape route to a fresh start away from Everton was dramatically closed off this evening when an agreed switch to Crystal Palace collapsed.

The South London club had initially agreed a £20m fee with Everton late in the day before the terms were,  according to The Athletic's David Ornstein, amended by Palace from a straight purchase to a loan deal with an obligation to make the transfer permament.

A deal sheet was submitted accordingly for the 26-year-old winger's transfer which afforded them an extra two hours beyond the window to complete a medical and finalise the required paperwork.

Word from Merseyside was that Palace went silent while they reassessed their position and whether through incompetence or because they got cold feet,  the paperwork was not filed in time with the Premier League and the move was called off shortly after the 9pm cutoff.

Palace had come in with a very late offer for McNeil, who has fallen down the pecking order at Bramley-Moore Dock following the arrivals of Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and the form of Iliman Ndiaye, and looked set to add him to their squad along with Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves.

McNeil will now remain with the Blues until the summer at least when there may be reignited interest in his services, with his current Everton contract due to expire at the end of next season.

Reader Responses

Selected thoughts from readers
Certain off-topic comments may be removed to keep the discussion on track

1  Gerry Morrison
03/02/2026    00:23:53

20 million would have been good business. More than I thought we would get for him.

2  David Metcalf
03/02/2026    09:17:56

I’m not Dwight’s biggest fan, and he hasn’t played well at all this season when he’s been involved.But some of the comments made about him on various social media sites have been an absolute disgrace.And Toffee TV were no better either.I was seriously disappointed by their childish, sniggering and totally disrespectful attitude towards McNeill.One guy in particular called Mike was pathetic.Did anyone else witness this? I honestly get the impression that there are some Evertonians who actually DON’T want McNeill to do well simply because whenever he does something wrong, it somehow proves their opinion right.

3  Gary Leonard
03/02/2026    09:31:37

I agree with David's comment. He has actually played well this season, with little game time. And he's a positive player, not afraid to go forward. A good squad player.

4  Craig Walker
03/02/2026    09:40:37

I thought Evertonians were better than some of the social media posts of McNeil. He's been a good servant and scored some important goals for us at a time when we needed them. He hasn't found consistency this season but I found the post by his girlfriend on Instagram quite moving. He has his demons off the pitch. Can we not give our players and the manager encouragement instead of the 'told you he was shite' vitriol we see after every disappointing result? We don't have to live up to the Bitter Blues tag.

5  Tom Smith
03/02/2026    10:50:58

I watched toffee tv too, what an absolute bellend he is, not sure you’ll see him again to be honest, a total disgrace, the other lads looked seriously embarrassed

6  Mark Dunford
03/02/2026    11:12:11

Dwight McNeil started really well for us and scored some critical goals when we were down with the relegation fodder. He is clearly more effective on the left or in the middle, yet he has been played on the right where he is less impressive. His performance against Brighton in the wonderful 5-1 victory was easily one of the best on the pitch and he was really unfortunate not to be credited with a hat trick.

He has also suffered from injury and some well documented problems with critical illness to his partner who is thankfully well and now providing him with great support.

He may well need to move on - it happens. I, for one, wish him well.

He doesn't deserve any abuse - this also happens and is completely unacceptable.

7  Jerome Shields
03/02/2026    12:42:34

McNeill has been treated abysmally by Palace.

Has played well as a tracking back winger.His move away was to get him more forward than Moyes was allowing him.£20 million would have been good business.

8  Iain johnston
03/02/2026    14:02:16

Probably because the Mateta deal fell through. For me we need to rally round him in a similar way many of us have shown support to Barry.

9  Dave White
03/02/2026    14:17:52

Yes. We are better than that. Dwight was one of our top performers not long ago, some have short memories. I hope he uses this as inspiration to kick on and stick it in Palace’s face!

10  Dennis Stevens
03/02/2026    14:44:36

I hope Dwight is playing well enough to be in the team for our visit to Selhurst Park in May, & scores a hat-trick. If that helps send Palace down, so much the better!

11  Paul Birmingham
03/02/2026    16:19:57

Every one has their opinion, but theres been certain articles and podcasts, which are well below, the belt, regards Dwights capability as a player.


One day the ball, will be on the other foot.

Looks like, they did, but did Palace take the piss. and didnt let him know, what was happening? His agent...?

I don't see him going to Palace now, and losing their manager, at the end of this season, hopefully a good deal is struck,with a club in the summer that suits all parties.

Hopefully in May, he scores a couple of goals of the season against, them.

Like, many have said

12  David Brown
03/02/2026    16:30:57

Dwight has not been seen at his best for us this season partly due to not being a regular in the first eleven but also probably due to not being played in his formerly best position wide left. He has often looked one paced and not the same player as the one who contributed hugely in our battle against relegation for our previous manager. A move away could have been helpful to all sides but now this has not happened -seemingly down to Palace- I think we should get behind Dwight and give him the support that his previous efforts for our club deserve...that's our job as supporters - the clue is in the name- to support our team and the players who represent our team. I would not be at all surprised to see Dwight play a part in helping us to get at least close to a European position this season.

13  Christine Foster
04/02/2026    19:52:38

I dare say this scenario or something like it, happened at quite a few footballers homes this week, hopes dashed, dreams crashed, heartbreak for the player and family. Rarely do we hear from a partner in support but always from social media are the bitter and nasty because they can do so with impunity, anonymous, just a name.
Mum used to say, "if you can't say anything good about someone, say nothing" that maxin now appears to have changed to " if you can't say anything bad about someone, you're too late"
Criticism of Dwight McNeil as a footballer is fair game, all of us have done it, but ridicule and abuse borders on vindictiveness should they or their partners respond. Just because the earn good money doesn't give anyone the right to the free pass to say what they like or treat someone like something you stepped in. (As an aside, my Uncle Jimmy and I went to a derby match at the other place once, on getting out at the end he shuffled his feet, I asked what he was doing and he replied, "Just wiping my feet on the way out of there girl" I just smiled as the penny dropped.)
Back to Dwight. He may, or may not be good enough for the future, but abusing him or his partner is and should not be acceptable. It's a mirror of DCL, or Tom Davies, or..(insert players name here)

14  Paul Ferry
05/02/2026    03:18:37

100% agree Christine. For God's sake do not go to this thread at the other place.

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