Dwight McNeil's move to Crystal Palace collapses

It could have been one of the highlights of an otherwiise largely disappointing transfer window... but in the end it was just too good to be true: Dwight McNeil is not moving to Crystal Palace for £20M.

McNeil was due to make the switch from Merseyside to south London on loan for the remainder of the season with an obligation to buy for £20M in the summer and become Palace’s second signing of transfer Deadline Day.

However, it is understood that the paperwork was not submitted in time to ensure the deal got over the line, and therefore McNeil will remain with Everton for the remainder of the season.

Reader Comments (54)

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Derek Thomas 2 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:24:39

Kevin; I thought it was too good to be true - £20M nobody's that daft

Mike Corcoran 3 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:29:01

Now reports are saying the McNeil deal fell through??

Michael Bennet 4 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:40:13

McNeil deal is off, for fuck's sake!

Joe McMahon 5 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:40:38

For fuck's sake, yep, Bobble confirmed deal fallen through.

Just for once it was looking good for Everton.

Andy Meighan 6 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:43:33

I'm hearing the Mcneil deal has fell through, paperwork issues apparently.

Ian Pilkington 7 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:44:32

Absolutely shocking news about McNeil.

Someone wants sacking, it would have been the best deal of the season.

Tony Hughes 8 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:49:02

I wonder why it fell through?

Did Palace offer £20k and for some strange reason, we thought they said £20M?

Ian Bennett 9 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:49:04

McNeil move to Palace is off.

Latest from Sky Sports News' Vinny O'Connor and James Savundra:

Dwight McNeil's move to Crystal Palace from Everton has collapsed.

The deal was for a loan with a £20M obligation if certain thresholds were met.

Sky Sports News understands paperwork was not done in time.

Paul Hewitt 11 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:52:31

This is why I never understand why clubs leave deals so late.

Neil Cremin 12 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:52:52

According to BBC, paperwork not completed in time.

Now that is so old school Everton. I thought TFG were a well-run organisation...

Neil Tyrrell 13 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:53:17

Part of the medical involved him kicking a ball with his right foot?

Kidding he might have a few big goals for us in him yet. Honestly don't think he's got up to full match speed yet this season.

Welcome back, Dwight.

Colin Malone 14 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:53:30

Palace will get the best out of Dwight by playing him on the left.

Sean Kelly 15 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:56:13

Typical of McNeil... no end product!!!

Looks like we are stuck with the mopey sod for a bit longer.

Anthony O'Sullivan 16 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:56:29

Is there a more Everton thing than messing up a deal by missing a paperwork deadline 😕

Jimmy Carr 17 Posted 02/02/2026 at 21:59:47

Palace have gotten the best out of this deal by it falling through.

Neil Tyrrell 18 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:04:31

Honestly thought we might have moved on from this paperwork not filed in time kind of shit. Does not reflect well on our new American overlords AT ALL. Amateur hour continues.

And I say this with no malice towards Dwight, just the incompetent bean counters.

Philip Lockett 19 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:05:41

We will just be paying him now for sitting on his Bum every game.

Neil Cremin 20 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:06:42

According to BBC, deal fell through because paperwork not submitted in time.

Now that is old school Everton. I thought that TFG were supposed to be the professional organisation we all crave for.

Based on this, nothing has changed.

Barry Robson 21 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:11:46

Both clubs involved in the deal have to complete the deal sheet.

Maybe it was Palace who were late with completing their part of the paperwork?

Dave Lynch 22 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:12:38

Bet he starts against Fulham!

Mal van Schaick 23 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:12:40

His head will be down even more until the end of the season.

Paul Hewitt 24 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:15:21

Maybe it's Palace that didn't do the paperwork on time?

Ian Bennett 25 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:18:54

🚨The deal sheet for Dwight McNeil's move to Crystal Palace was submitted in time and McNeil completed his medical.

But due to Palace's sale of Mateta collapsing they changed terms from £20M purchase to a loan with an obligation and then pulled out

(Via - David Ornstein)

Ed Bower 26 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:20:18

Palace didn’t submit the paperwork in time.

Maybe they saw sense!

Josh Horne 27 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:25:02

Like a new signing.

And like various other new signings, he should not expect much game time.

Kevin Molloy 28 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:25:45

Well, maybe it will work out well for everyone. We've got two wing positions which without Dwight were due to be covered by three teenagers and a tired-looking Ndiaye.

I suspect Dwight will come in useful in quite a few games this season when we are needing to manage games to a successful conclusion.

Jack Convery 29 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:32:15

It's up to McNeil now. If he wants a move to Palace come the summer, he'll need to up his game. They'll have a new manager for next season. Hopefully Glasner will come to us in June 2026.

Hugh Jenkins 30 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:35:13

For once, I don't think that Everton are to blame.

It was Crystal Palace that failed to get the paperwork in on time.

Kevin Molloy 31 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:36:38

it would indeed by Everton that were we to qualify for Europe and then sack Moyes to offer the job to the chap who'd just relegated Palace.

Neil Tyrrell 32 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:36:54

Ian Bennett @25, thanks. If true then I retract my previous rant against our current owners. Although it's still not a great look, is it? Surely both sides share the blame.

Sean O\'Hanlon 33 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:43:04

It wouldn't surprise me if Moyes fucked up the paper work! He's certainly tucked up the team.

Darren Hind 34 Posted 02/02/2026 at 22:50:47

Why would Moyes be replaced by the palace manager ?.

Were not going down. We are not going to win a trophy and we wont qualify for a lucrative CL place. I would like TFG to lay it on the line to him now - Give the loyal fans what they want or we'll get somebody who will.

Kevin Molloy 35 Posted 02/02/2026 at 23:00:28

you need to read a couple of entries above mine Darren. Hopefully TFG aren't wanting to start issuing ultimatums to high performing employees, and I can't imagine they will.

hopefully they will have more patience, and will realise we are not yet in a position to move to total football, not with our current fullbacks, and three teenagers in the team.. They will realise there is a mature plan in action to build the team incrementally back to the European spots over the next 2-3 years, and that will be more than enough to meet his job requirements.

Darren Hind 36 Posted 02/02/2026 at 23:19:26

One mans preference, Kevin. Hardly a huge cry to get him in.

Mind you; Now that you mention him. He achieved something in one season that Moyes has failed to do in twenty seasons when he won a domestic cup and If you think he will get relegated this season, come and see me on betfair.

By the way. Nobody is calling for "total football". we just want Moyes to stop hiding behind the couch and surrendering possession before a ball is even kicked.

Kevin Molloy 37 Posted 02/02/2026 at 23:23:15

Darren well fair enough, at the end of the day we all see what we want to see. You see that first half with four centre backs, I see a midfield which has gone from Doucoure and Harrison (who hated receiving the. ball under any circumstances) to KDH Grealish Dibling and a revitalised Garner.

Neil Tyrrell 38 Posted 02/02/2026 at 23:35:13

Yes Darren, let's quit protecting the nil from the off and actually get the fuck after teams from the first whistle! All those wasted first halves add up to a bunch of wasted results in the end.

Darren Hind 39 Posted 02/02/2026 at 23:36:25

I'm not talking about 4 center backs. Thats just one game. I'm talking about his whole approach.

Moyes was given well over 100m for players. he was also allowed to bring in a top class player on loan from City. There is no doubt we have better players than Doucourie and Harrison, but we still surrender the Lions share of possession week in week out Thats on the manager and his cowardly approach

Mark Taylor 40 Posted 02/02/2026 at 23:46:51

I can't imagine the deal failed because of us. Even we can't be that incompetent surely? Much more likely, Palace got cold feet having over paid for the Wolves guy and failed to recoup anything for Mateta. Strikes me they are in some disarray right now.

Or at least that is what I'd like to believe because McNeil's race was well and truly run with us.

Kevin Molloy 41 Posted 02/02/2026 at 23:49:11

we Dom't have the confidence to take it to teams in the way you would like. The game has changed. if we go charging around after the ball and all gang ho, the away teams will just pick us off. We have to be cuter than that, that requires confidence and a relaxed atmosphere. Neither of which is currently present at BMD. Our style has improved immeasurably even in just months, as you say, we have players now who love the ball. And, significantly, those same ball players all love playing for the manager. Usually ball players don't like playing for Tony Pulis. And it will continue to improve.

Dave Abrahams 42 Posted 02/02/2026 at 23:50:55

I’m sorry the deal never went through for Dwight’s sake, he’s not wanted here by most fans, the manager didn’t seem to rate him and Palace seemed to be at fault over the paper work or wanted to change the deal.

Dwight looked like he wanted to go so he’s the biggest loser here, I hope you get a move in the summer Dwight and carry on and have successful career elsewhere hopefully in the premiere league.

Chris Davies 43 Posted 02/02/2026 at 23:51:20

Darren @39, super Frank wanted us to “love having the ball”. We don’t have the players to play football. Sad and true, I know.

45 Posted 02/02/2026 at 00:01:24

We have a different set of players than we had under Lampard. Gifted players who can play.

We have more talent than at least half the teams in the league. Yet we cower against all of them. No excuses.

Moyes doesnt have to go "Gung Ho" Thats just an extreme used by people apologising for him.. He could win over the fan base tomorrow. All he has to do is send his team out on the front foot.

He wont, because he wont.

Neil Tyrrell 47 Posted 02/02/2026 at 00:09:37

Chris and Kevin, are you honestly happy with the recent draws against Brighton, Leeds, and Wolves? Where we sat back and absorbed their brilliance for 45 minutes before even having a go? Take it even further back to the derby, this was the RS as low as they've been in many years and we sat back like we were terrified of them until we were 2-0 down, then we gave them a game.

Moyrs has done alright with his pragmatism. It just crosses the line into cowardice way too often for my liking. Not asking for 1970 Brazil, but at least try to fucking win from the off. There are no unbeatable teams in the league this season.

Chris Davies 48 Posted 03/02/2026 at 00:11:21

Yeah, fair. Sorry, kinda.

The closest to the truth from my little search from Lampard’s first 11 was

Pickford

Patterson grodfrey mina Miko

Alan Gomes Townsend

Gray Gordan Richie

Maybe similar??

Both shit, agreed.

Nick Page 49 Posted 03/02/2026 at 00:15:20

However, the more pertinent fucking question to ask is, why record signing Tyler Dibling …. a left footer no less (and probably not a Catholic) …. Isn’t playing? Absolutely Everton that….

The last £45m player we bought ended up being wrongly accused (BY THE CLUB) of sexual offences against a minor. And written off the books at a great cost.

Meanwhile, in the real world, everyone else is scrambling around doing deals to fill the bench and we’re fucking about, as per usual, like it’s 2011 again and Bills hidden the Arteta money down the sofa.

Chris Davies 50 Posted 03/02/2026 at 00:17:46

Neil, I fucking hate Moyes’s football (much better that dyche, big Sam, unspeakable c**t, etc) but, yes, it’s shit. But it isn’t the horror I’m still traumatised by for the last few years.

I was at Brighton on Saturday (in the home end behind the goal) and I was so bored by the time Beto decided he could finally get his feet in order, I was numb.

I’m not saying I like Moyes’s football. I’m saying it’s a nice change to not lose every bloody week

Kevin Molloy 52 Posted 03/02/2026 at 00:24:00

Neil

are you forgetting we had like seven players out?

Kevin Molloy 53 Posted 03/02/2026 at 00:26:15

I hope Crystal Palace have the decency to apologise to Dwight tomorrow.

They've treated him disgracefully.

Neil Tyrrell 54 Posted 03/02/2026 at 00:31:49

I'm glad you had that equalizer moment at the Amex Chris, and sorry you were in the wrong end. Hope you quietly (or not) enjoyed the moment.

And like I said, Moyes pragmatism is fine up to a point. He's got us all but mathematically safe, and it's much appreciated. At this point not turning up to play for the first half, week in week out, is beyond frustrating. We could beat all of these teams. But we do nothing but protect the 0-0 for half the match, every week. Isn't football about trying to win?