Brennan Johnson's Move to Crystal Palace: A Strategic Transfer for Tottenham and Eagles
Tottenham Hotspur winger Brennan Johnson is on the verge of completing a transfer to Crystal Palace for a reported fee of £33.5 million. This move comes after Johnson struggled for regular playing time at Spurs and emerged as a target for several Premier League clubs. Read on to find out more about this significant transfer deal and its implications for both clubs.
Tottenham Hotspur winger Brennan Johnson is undergoing a medical at Crystal Palace as his £33.5 million ($45m) transfer edges closer. Johnson has failed to nail down a starting place at Spurs this season under new head coach Thomas Frank and he is set to leave the club after two-and-a-half seasons in north London.Towards the end of December, reports emerged detailing Palace's interest in Johnson, with the FA Cup holders intent on bolstering Oliver Glasner's thin squad. Palace's roster is light in general, but the loss of Ismaila Sarr to Africa Cup of Nations duty has made bringing in another forward with goal threat of grave importance. The Eagles opened talks with Tottenham and agreed on a £33.5m fee, though other Premier League clubs such as Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Everton were also tipped to make bids of their own.With several teams looking into the signing of Johnson, BBC Sport reported on Thursday that the Wales international decided to join Palace after holding talks with head coach Glasner, as well as other members of the club's hierarchy.Glasner's contract at Selhurst Park expires at the end of the season and it has been claimed he may leave the club in the summer. The Austrian, the first manager in Palace's history to lead them into European competition, has been linked with Chelsea following Enzo Maresca's sacking on New Year's Day.Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!Johnson joined Tottenham on deadline day of the summer 2023 transfer window for £50m ($67m) from boyhood club Nottingham Forest. He was a favourite under then-Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou, scoring five goals and laying on 11 assists in 34 appearances during his first season.Tottenham began 2024-25 slowly and Johnson was targeted with abuse on social media, but he completed a remarkable redemption arc. The forward registered 18 goals and seven assists across all competitions, none more important than the winner against Manchester United in last May's Europa League final.Thomas Frank, who tried to sign Johnson when head coach of Brentford, succeeded Postecoglou at Spurs for the 2025-26 season, but the 24-year-old has dropped down the pecking order. He has started only six Premier League matches this term and hasn't scored in the league since August.Despite reports of Johnson nearing an exit, Frank has repeatedly downplayed the prospect of selling Johnson. At a press conference on Tuesday, Frank said: "There's rumours out there, in general I'll not comment on that, no matter if we want to sign or sell a player, or get a staff member in or out. I've no interest in commenting either way."As I said, Brennan is a very important player for us. Sometimes things change if another player comes in. Unfortunately, [Mohammed] Kudus came in for him and played on the right side and has done well. So it's been a little bit more tricky to get enough starts. He started the season also quite well from the left."I think Brennan has a lot of attributes. Very good running in behind, very good scoring goals. That's a good quality. So some of those key things is fantastic. Also working hard for the team, but you need more than just 11 players. That's the way it is. I think Brennan has been a top professional, is a top professional, trained well today. He's ready for two days' time."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingIf all the necessary paperwork is filed to the Premier League in time, Johnson could make his Palace debut on Sunday when his prospective new side travel to Newcastle. He is expected to be presented to the Selhurst Park crowd for the first time next Wednesday when they host Aston Villa, while an FA Cup tie away to non-league side Macclesfield is up after that.
Johnson's Journey from Tottenham to Crystal Palace
Brennan Johnson, who joined Tottenham from Nottingham Forest in a big-money move, has found himself on the fringes of the squad under new head coach Thomas Frank. Despite initial success at Spurs, Johnson's opportunities dwindled this season, leading to interest from multiple clubs including Crystal Palace. After discussions with Palace's coaching staff and hierarchy, Johnson made the decision to join the Eagles in search of regular first-team football.
Palace's Need for Reinforcements
Crystal Palace, currently under the management of Oliver Glasner, identified the need to bolster their attacking options, particularly in the absence of Ismaila Sarr due to international duty. The acquisition of Johnson is seen as a crucial addition to add a goal-scoring threat to the Eagles' forward line. With other Premier League clubs also showing interest in the player, Palace moved swiftly to secure the services of the talented winger.
Frank's Perspective and Johnson's Impact
Thomas Frank, the Tottenham head coach, spoke highly of Johnson's qualities despite the limited game time this season. Frank acknowledged the competition for places and the emergence of other players in similar positions. Johnson, known for his pace and goal-scoring ability, made significant contributions during his time at Spurs, including a memorable goal in the Europa League final. While Frank expressed reluctance to comment on transfer speculation, he emphasized Johnson's importance to the team.
Next Steps for Johnson and Palace
If all formalities are completed on time, Johnson could feature for Crystal Palace in their upcoming fixtures, bringing his talent and energy to the squad. The transition to a new club will present Johnson with fresh opportunities to showcase his skills and make an impact in the Premier League. Palace fans can look forward to witnessing Johnson in action as he aims to make a positive impression from the outset.



