Brennan Johnson Joins Crystal Palace Following Successful Spurs Tenure

Brennan Johnson completed his transfer to Crystal Palace from Tottenham Hotspur during the 2023 summer transfer window for a reported fee of £47.5 million ($60.5 million/€56 million). After joining Spurs from Nottingham Forest, he quickly established himself as a vital component of the team’s starting lineup under former manager Ange Postecoglou. In his second season, Johnson scored 18 goals across all competitions, a significant increase from just five in his inaugural campaign. His most crucial goal came in the UEFA Europa League final, where he scored the decisive strike against Manchester United, ending Tottenham’s prolonged trophy drought in May.

Tottenham released a statement confirming the transfer: “We have reached an agreement with Crystal Palace for the transfer of Brennan Johnson. The 24-year-old Wales international’s name will forever be etched into our history as the winning goalscorer in last season’s UEFA Europa League final. His close-range effort proved to be the only goal of the match that secured our victory in Bilbao. We thank Brennan for his contributions and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Interestingly, Johnson’s last appearance for Spurs occurred just under a week ago in a narrow 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, where Archie Gray netted the only goal. Now, Johnson will have the opportunity to rejuvenate his career after falling out of favor with current Spurs manager Frank. Crystal Palace, who have recently struggled with a winless streak in their last five matches, particularly in attack, will welcome Johnson’s arrival as they prepare for challenging fixtures against Newcastle and Aston Villa. Additionally, they are competing in the UEFA Conference League, where they currently sit in tenth place in the league phase table.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Johnson stated on Palace’s website, “I’m really excited and I’m really happy. Crystal Palace are such a great club, one that I’ve always admired. It’s a great time for me to join the journey this club is on – I’m super excited.”

Palace’s manager Oliver Glasner expressed his delight at securing Johnson’s transfer early in the window, commending the club for their swift action. He noted, “Brennan will provide us with more options in our attacking play, thanks to his pace and goal-scoring ability. With numerous upcoming games, he will be a valuable addition to our squad.”

Prior to signing, Johnson engaged in discussions with Glasner to clarify his role within the team. Recent matches have seen Justin Devenny and Yeremi Pino supporting main striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, while Ismaila Sarr is currently on international duty with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Despite being a key player for Postecoglou, Johnson’s influence diminished following Frank’s appointment as manager. The arrival of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham intensified competition for places, leading to Johnson making only six Premier League starts in the 2025-26 season and contributing just four goals.

Following a goalless draw with Brentford, Frank acknowledged the likelihood of Johnson’s transfer, stating, “Yeah, obviously there are some rumors out there, and it’s probably close to some of the rumors.”

Johnson has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Crystal Palace and will don the No.11 shirt. The club anticipates his immediate availability, as they face Newcastle on Sunday, followed by Aston Villa, and upcoming matches against Macclesfield in the FA Cup, Sunderland, Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest.

On the other hand, Tottenham may need to reinvest the transfer fee into the January transfer market, as they currently sit in 12th place with a lengthy injury list. Frank has indicated the need for reinforcements, stating, “We are in the market. We are definitely interested in strengthening the squad. It’s crucial that any additions genuinely improve the team, and naturally, there may be outgoings to create a sharper squad.”