Brennan Johnson has outlined his reasons for joining Everton after completing his switch from Crystal Palace.
Johnson has moved to Merseyside with Dwight McNeil going in the opposite direction, bringing an end to his unhappy eight-month spell at Selhurst Park.
The Wales international joined Palace for £35m from Tottenham but failed to make much of an impression and the Eagles were happy to cut their losses and take a chance on long-time target McNeil instead.
Palace’s loss could be Everton’s gain with the 25-year-old excited at the move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
He told evertontv: “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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
McNeil leaves Everton for Palace
McNeil leaves Everton after making 128 appearances, scoring 15 goals.
The 26-year-old will now continue his career in South London.
He told the club’s official website: “I’m really happy to be here, and looking forward to the challenge ahead.
“The lads have had some great success over the last two seasons. It’s something that I want to be a part of, so I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
