Dwight McNeil’s girlfriend criticises Crystal Palace for ‘toying’ with Everton midfielder

Dwight McNeil’s girlfriend Megan Sharpley has slammed Crystal Palace for “toying” with the Everton midfielder and said the breakdown of his move to Selhurst Park has left him “broken-hearted”.

McNeil was seemingly on his way to the Eagles late on transfer deadline day only for the transfer to fall through. Sharpley says the failure to secure a move away from the Hill Dickinson Stadium has “hurt more than I can say”.

In a series of posts last night on Instagram, Sharpley said: “Tonight, and the last 48 hours have broken my heart to see how the football world you love so much can be so cruel to you.

“To have something promised to you, to have been dragged along on an emotional rollercoaster, and to be toyed with until the final minute. To have four and a half years of your life promised to you, travelling, medicals, agreements made… promises made. To have prepared to move your entire life, our lives 100s of miles away in the space of a few hours.

“For it to be torn away from you at the last second, with absolutely no explanation. Going from everything – to radio silence, no phone call, no communication and be left, broken hearted with nothing but confusion, has hurt more than I can say.”

Not acceptable to mess with emotions – Sharpley

She added: “No matter of money, we all deserve to be treated with respect, kindness and fairly. So I really question the industry tonight. I only hope there’s more done in the future to protect people from situations like what I have witnessed tonight. Football is brutal and yes, it is the nature of the beast, but messing with human beings’ feelings and emotions shouldn’t be acceptable.”

Sharpley, who underwent major surgery at the beginning of 2024 and credits McNeil for helping her make a full recovery, said the former Burnley man would now knuckle down at Everton.

“So, here’s to carrying on being an Everton player,” she wrote. “The support we’ve had from this club, especially during my illness, has meant a lot on or journey, so let’s keep grinding, keep working and grafting for this badge. Let’s keep going Dwight, show them who you are. I’m right by your side.”

McNeil, who joined the Toffees from Burnley in 2022 for a fee in the region of £20m, has made 14 league appearances for Everton this season, contributing one assist.