Crystal Palace have completed a club-record £35m deal with Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson, with the Wales international confirmed to be available for Sunday’s trip to Newcastle, live on Sky Sports.
Johnson has signed a four-and-a-half year contract at Selhurst Park and will wear the number 11 shirt.
The 24-year-old is Palace’s record signing, surpassing the £32m the Eagles paid Liverpool for Christian Benteke in the summer of 2016.
Johnson has been at Spurs since the summer of 2023, when he signed for £47.5m from Nottingham Forest. Last season, he was the club’s top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions, including the winning goal in the Europa League final in May.
Johnson helped Spurs win the Europa League last season.
However, he has only started six games in the Premier League this season under new manager Thomas Frank, playing on either flank after losing his place to Mohamed Kudus, who joined from West Ham in a £55m deal this summer.
Johnson has played 20 games in all competitions for Spurs this season, scoring 27 goals in 107 games.
Johnson: It’s been a great time at Palace.
Johnson believes he joined the Eagles at the right time, with the club set to compete on three fronts in 2026.
“I’m really excited and really happy,” Johnson said. “Crystal Palace is a fantastic club and I have always respected them.
“It’s a great time for me to be here and be part of the journey this club is on.”
Palace manager Oliver Glasner said: “I’m really pleased that Brennan has joined the club.
“He arrived very early in the deadline and I would like to give credit to the club for making this happen so quickly.
“Brennan’s speed and scoring ability will give us options in our offensive play. He will be a valuable addition to our team in all future games.”
Johnson celebrates after scoring the winning goal in the Europa League final against Man United
Johnson’s arrival will be a dusting of stardust among the south Londoners and is Palace’s first major investment since selling Eberechi Eze to Arsenal for £67.5m in August.
Palace chairman Steve Parish said: “We are delighted that Brennan has joined us, an exciting young talent who has achieved great results in recent times in domestic, continental and international football.”
“We feel that Brennan is the perfect place to continue his already impressive journey and his arrival strengthens our attacking options as we compete on a number of fronts, including in Europe for the first time, in what is proving to be our busiest season to date.”
Why signing Johnson makes sense for Palace
Peter Smith of Sky Sports:
Signing Johnson looks like good business for Crystal Palace.
Manager Glasner is in desperate need of reinforcements and the Welsh winger would add depth in an area lacking players in south London, and his speed and directness should suit Palace’s style well.
Johnson left his mark on Spurs as a winner in the Europa League final against Manchester United, but his close-range finish was typical of his developing style of diving into dangerous positions in the box.
Johnson took all 54 shots in the Premier League for Spurs last season, all from inside the penalty area.
In fact, all 54 of his shots in the Premier League last season came from inside the penalty area. The approach paid off, with Johnson becoming Spurs’ top scorer in both the league and all competitions. Five of his 11 goals in the Premier League came from inside the six-yard box, with only strikers Alexander Isak and Yoan Ouissa scoring more inside that zone.
Whether cutting in from the right flank and looking for shooting positions, or dashing towards the byline and sending the ball flying across the face of goal, Johnson’s attacking approach could excite Selhurst, especially in Ismaila Sarr’s absence at AFCON. He also has the flexibility to play on either flank, and the 24-year-old is expected to do even more.
Since Kudus arrived, he has only played bit parts for Spurs this term. But while Tottenham bid farewell to last season’s top scorer for the third successive season, selling Johnson for a loss of £12m less than what they paid for him two-and-a-half years ago, Palace have welcomed a much-needed addition.
For Johnson, the chance to play regularly in what could be a World Cup year for Wales is valuable if the play-offs go to plan, but the possibility of winning more trophies – and perhaps another European trophy – is not out of the question under Glasner’s guidance.
