Everton have completed the signing of Brennan Johnson, bringing an abrupt end to the winger's brief and largely forgettable spell at Crystal Palace. The Wales international has put pen to paper on a four-year contract at Goodison Park, giving him another opportunity to rediscover the form that once made him one of the Premier League's most promising attacking talents.
Johnson's time at Selhurst Park lasted just seven months after his January move from Tottenham Hotspur, yet it produced little to remember on a personal level. Despite Palace lifting the Conference League trophy in May, Johnson never managed to get on the scoresheet during his stay, struggling to establish himself as a regular in Oliver Glasner's plans.
Much of his playing time came in Premier League fixtures when Glasner opted to rotate his squad, with Palace's focus firmly fixed on European success in the closing months of the campaign. Johnson's involvement in that continental run was minimal - he featured for only 30 minutes from the quarter-final stage onward and was not called upon at all in the final, as Palace defeated Rayo Vallecano 1-0 to claim the trophy.
The move to south London had been billed as a fresh start for Johnson following a challenging conclusion to his time at Tottenham. That difficulty stood in contrast to the season before, when he had been Spurs' leading scorer across all competitions and famously scored the winning goal in the Europa League final. However, his confidence appeared to wane during his short stint with Palace, and a switch was eventually deemed necessary for both player and club.
Now 25, Johnson will be hoping that a new environment under David Moyes can help reignite his career. Speaking after finalizing his move to Merseyside, the forward expressed enthusiasm about linking up with the Toffees and outlined the factors that persuaded him to make the switch.
"I'm so excited to be here. The club speaks for itself – it's a massive club and one that when I first heard of the interest, I immediately wanted to come and be part of it," Johnson said.
He went on to highlight the influence of Moyes and the broader ambitions of the squad as key reasons behind his decision. "There were a lot of reasons why I was so keen to join – the manager, the players, the direction the team is going in. You can see this is a club that wants to go in the right direction, and I'm a player who wants to go in that direction, too, so it feels like a really good match," he added.
Johnson also spoke about the faith Moyes has shown in him since their initial conversations, suggesting that the experienced manager's belief in his abilities played a significant role in convincing him to join. "I want to come in and show what I can do. The manager spoke to me about getting back to the form that I've shown previously, and that's a massive thing for me – the fact he knows and believes in what I can do. For me, listening to him – a manager who is so experienced and someone who has been so successful – it was really nice to hear," Johnson said.
Everton fans will be eager to see whether the switch can help Johnson recapture the sharpness and goal threat that once made him a standout performer in the Premier League, as he looks to put his brief and difficult chapter at Palace behind him.
Based on reporting from standard-football.