Crystal Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish contacted Dwight McNeil's partner before the midfielder's move to the club on Tuesday. McNeil has completed a move to Palace and signed a four-year contract in a swap deal that involved Brennan Johnson moving to Everton. McNeil, 26, nearly moved to Selhurst Park in the January transfer window when Palace agreed a loan-to-buy deal. Parish said McNeil is "a player with proven ability in the Premier League". Johnson signed for Palace in a £35m deal in January but struggled to find form and made 26 appearances in all competitions without scoring.