Dwight McNeil Opens Up on Failed Move & Everton Resurgence

McNeil reveals the emotional toll of his failed Crystal Palace transfer move.
Winger credits his partner and teammates for helping him find stability again.
Recent standout performances prove McNeil is in his best form under Moyes.

Dwight McNeil has opened up about the emotional turmoil of his failed January move to Crystal Palace, revealing how he has used the disappointment to rediscover his best form at Everton.

The 26-year-old winger was named Player of the Match in Everton’s recent 3-0 victory over Chelsea, but just weeks earlier, he was moments away from leaving Merseyside. A deadline-day switch to Selhurst Park was close to being finalised before falling through in the final hour.

‘It was a difficult, difficult day’

McNeil, speaking in the Official Matchday Programme for the Chelsea game, described the emotional toll of a day that turned his life upside down.

“It was difficult because it was going to be a big change for me, and it was just to go and play football,” he said. “I was struggling for minutes here at the time. So, it was a difficult, difficult day. A lot went on.”

His partner Megan, was with him throughout. “She went through it. Mentally, it was tough,” McNeil added. “We had to sign the extension forms until nine o’clock, and then, it all just fell through at the last minute. It was difficult because it went that far down the line, but it didn’t happen and it wasn’t meant to be.”

Megan later wrote about the distress caused by the collapse, describing the “tears, the emotion and the distress” of preparing to move their entire life only to be met with “radio silence, no phone call, no communication.”

Dwight McNeil credits his partner’s perspective for helping him move forward. “Meg has a big emphasis on ‘everything happens for a reason.’ So that’s the way I’m looking at it.”

Finding his feet again at Everton

The support from his teammates proved crucial in the aftermath. “I’ve got to say – all of the lads have been a massive help,” McNeil explained. “I’m really close with a few of them, in particular, and, obviously, they checked in on me as soon as it happened on the night, some of them rang me. I want to say a big thank you to all of them, to be honest, because they’ve been first-class and really helped me.”

Since that setback, McNeil has forced his way back into David Moyes’ starting XI. His performance against his former club, Burnley, earned a standing ovation from the Hill Dickinson faithful after being substituted late on.

“It was a lovely moment. Something that will stay with me,” he reflected. “It was just nice to have that reception from the fans. I think it was my best performance this season.”

McNeil admits the change of manager from Sean Dyche to David Moyes came at an awkward time while he was injured, but he has now found his role in the team, often deployed on the right wing, cutting in onto his left foot – nicknamed “the paintbrush” by teammates.

“This is the first time in my career where I’ve mainly played off the right,” he said. “I’m happy to play anywhere in the front line. I just want to play.”

On Everton’s European ambitions, Dwight McNeil believes the squad is the strongest he has been part of. “With quality and talent-wise, the quality has gone up and that’s shown with where we are in the league this season,” he said.

His message to supporters is simple. “I feel like I’m enjoying my football again. There’s a lot to play for and I want to keep enjoying it.”