Everton and Crystal Palace have completed a swap deal involving Dwight McNeil and Brennan Johnson.

Johnson, 25, has signed a four-year deal that sees him move to Hill Dickinson Stadium on a contract until 2030. McNeil, 26, has signed a four-year deal with Palace.

Johnson only joined Palace in January, arriving from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth £35million (€40m; $47m), a then-club record fee. The Wales international had finished as Spurs’ top goalscorer in the 2024-25 season, scoring 18 goals, but struggled to replicate that form at Palace, failing to find the net in any of his 26 appearances in all competitions.

The move to Everton sees Johnson represent his third Premier League club, having come through the academy at Nottingham Forest and having helped the team avoid relegation from the top flight in 2022-23.

Welcome to the Toffees, Brennan! ✍️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 pic.twitter.com/r3CIcOK8uJ

— Everton (@Everton) August 11, 2026

“There were a lot of reasons why I was so keen to join,” Johnson told his new club’s website. “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.

“I want to come in and show what I can do. The manager (David Moyes) 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.

Dwight McNeil appeared set to join Crystal Palace in the winter window (Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

“I want to bring all of my attributes. First and foremost, I’ll work for the team, the fans, and represent the club properly. I know that’s something that’s definitely appreciated and a non-negotiable here. They can expect that from me. On top of that, I think I can bring speed, goals and everything I’ve got.

“The incredible fanbase that Everton has, whether it’s home or away, is something I’ve always felt. It’s a massive honour to be here and play for them now.”

Johnson is Everton’s third new arrival of the summer, following the signings of Hayden Hackney and Christian Norgaard. Tyrique George and Merlin Rohl have both also joined the club permanently after their loan spells last season.

Time for a new challenge. pic.twitter.com/5Co8V4ZKZI

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 11, 2026

“I’m really happy to be here,” McNeil told Palace’s website. “I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“The lads have had some success over the last two seasons, so I’m really looking forward to meeting them and cracking on.

“With winning the FA Cup, and then last season winning the Conference League, and now this season they’re in the Europa League… it’s something I want to be a part of, so I’m really looking forward to getting started.

McNeil had appeared to be heading to Palace on deadline day earlier this year after the two sides reached an agreement on an initial loan with an obligation to buy for a £20million fee. But the paperwork was not completed before the deadline and the move broke down.

McNeil made 26 appearances in all competitions last campaign for Everton, starting 14 Premier League games, but did not score.

“Believe you me, that time of 1:53.28 is astonishing,” Jenny Meadows, former British runner and coach to Hodgkinson, told BBC Sport.

“I won medals on a global level and I could not even comprehend that a female could run that sort of time.”

But athletes have never been closer to breaking it.

Werro has twice gone under 1:54 this year, but still more than half a second from Kratochvilova’s record.

Olympic champion Hodgkinson broke the 800m indoor record in February, which had stood since 2002, crossing the line in 1:54.87.

Then there’s the Netherlands’ Femke Broeders-Bol, still largely an unknown in the 800m after deciding to switch disciplines from 400m hurdles. But, with little 800m experience, she ran a time of 1:55.60 seconds at the Paris Diamond League event in June.

“They’re all dragging each other to these incredible times. The level of the 800m has risen significantly in the past two years,” said Jessica Ennis-Hill, who won heptathlon gold at the London 2012 Olympics.

Innovations in sports science have edged athletes closer too.

“Everyone is going faster than they used to be because the shoe technology is so much better,” University of Exeter professor Andrew Jones told BBC Sport.

Jones specialises in applied physiology, working with middle and long-distance runners to chase faster times.

“We know more about various supplements, things like creatine, nitrate, but in particular bicarbonate.

“And we know more about what limits performance”.

This includes our understanding of carbohydrates, and how to best fuel for a middle-distance race like the 800m.

“It’s a bit like a Formula One race car,” he added. “You want the car to cross the line almost empty of fuel. If you’ve got half a tank left, you’ve been weighing yourself down.”

Now, in Birmingham, the best three 800m runners in the world are looking like they will contest a gripping final, if they come through Thursday’s semi-finals. Whether that final will turn into a more tactical race or develop into a battle of speed remains to be seen.

“All it takes is one person to raise the bar and you think more things are possible,” Hodgkinson told BBC Sport.

“Everyone knows that to keep up you have to keep getting better. It’s a really exciting time for the women’s 800m.”