Alious
Crystal Palace are facing fierce criticism over their handling of Dwight McNeil’s collapsed deadline-day move, with the Everton winger’s girlfriend, Megan Sharpley, accusing the club of showing a “complete disregard” for the player’s mental wellbeing after dramatically pulling out of the deal at the final moment.
What had appeared to be a straightforward transfer unravelled in chaotic fashion. Palace were understood to have agreed a loan deal with an obligation to buy McNeil for around £20 million, alongside a long-term contract that would have secured his future until 2030. With the 26-year-old no longer a key figure at Everton under David Moyes, the move was seen as a fresh start.
McNeil travelled to London, successfully completed his medical and began making arrangements to relocate his family. A deal sheet was reportedly lodged with the Premier League before the 11pm deadline, granting Palace and Everton extra time to complete the paperwork. Yet during that extension period, communication from Palace is said to have stopped entirely.
According to those close to the player, the situation went from full agreement to total silence. No explanation, no phone call, no last-minute warning — just a sudden collapse that left McNeil and his representatives stunned and emotionally drained.
Sharpley later took to social media to vent her anger and heartbreak, describing the experience as “cruel” and accusing the football industry of treating players as disposable assets rather than human beings. She said the last 48 hours had been devastating, explaining how promises were made, plans were put in motion and their lives were turned upside down — only for everything to be ripped away without explanation at the very last second.
She questioned how, in an era where mental health is openly discussed, such treatment can still be brushed aside simply because footballers earn high wages. In her view, money does not excuse playing with people’s emotions or wellbeing. Behind the headlines and transfer fees, she stressed, there are real people dealing with confusion, distress and tears that the public never sees.
The episode has also raised eyebrows because it is not the first time Palace have been linked to a high-profile transfer collapse. In the previous window, the club dramatically backed out of an agreed £35m sale of Marc Guehi to Liverpool, reportedly while the defender was already undergoing medical tests. Guehi later joined Manchester City for significantly less, adding to the sense of a worrying pattern at Selhurst Park.
For McNeil, the failed move cuts especially deep. After slipping down the pecking order at Goodison Park, the Palace transfer was viewed as a crucial chance to revive his career and regain momentum. Instead, he must now return to Everton and try to rebuild his place in a squad where he appeared surplus to requirements just days earlier.
Despite the disappointment, Sharpley ended her message on a note of resilience and gratitude. She praised Everton for their support, particularly during her recent illness, and made it clear that the couple are determined to move forward together.
As McNeil heads back to Merseyside, the focus now shifts to how he responds on the pitch — and whether this painful episode becomes fuel for a strong comeback rather than a setback that lingers.
Alious
