Tottenham Hotspur have announced that winger Brennan Johnson has completed a £35 million transfer to Crystal Palace, just months after scoring the decisive goal in the Europa League final. The Welsh international, who was a key player under former manager Ange Postecoglou, had struggled for game time following Thomas Frank’s appointment. Johnson now has the opportunity to reignite his career at Selhurst Park, with the Eagles currently sitting above Spurs in the Premier League table in tenth position.

Tottenham confirm Johnson’s departure

Johnson joined Spurs late in the 2023 summer transfer window from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth around £47.5 million ($60.5m/€56m). He quickly established himself in Postecoglou’s first-choice lineup, netting 18 goals across all competitions in his second season after managing just five in his debut campaign. His most memorable moment came in May when his scrappy strike in the Europa League final secured Tottenham’s victory over Manchester United, ending the club’s long trophy drought.

Tottenham issued an official statement saying: “We have reached an agreement with Crystal Palace for the transfer of Brennan Johnson.

“The 24-year-old Wales international will always hold a special place in our history as the scorer of the winning goal in last season’s UEFA Europa League final, his close-range finish proving the difference as we defeated Manchester United in Bilbao.

“We thank Brennan for his contributions and wish him all the best for the future.”

Interestingly, Johnson’s final appearance for Tottenham came less than a week ago in their narrow 1-0 win over Palace, where Archie Gray netted the only goal.

Johnson: ‘I’m really excited and happy’

After losing his spot under Frank, Johnson will look to restart his career with the South London side. Palace have been struggling recently, failing to win any of their last five matches in all competitions and struggling for goals. The addition of the 24-year-old winger is expected to bolster their attack ahead of challenging fixtures against Newcastle United and Aston Villa. Palace are also competing in the UEFA Conference League, where they currently sit tenth in the league phase standings.

Speaking to Palace’s official website, Johnson said: “I’m really excited and I’m really happy. Crystal Palace are a fantastic club that I’ve always admired. It’s a great moment for me to join this team and be part of the journey the club is on – I can’t wait to get started.”

Manager Oliver Glasner expressed his delight at the signing, saying: “I’m very pleased that Brennan has joined us. He’s arrived early in the window, so full credit to the club for making this happen quickly.

“Brennan brings pace and goalscoring ability to our attack, and with the busy schedule ahead, he’ll be an important addition to the squad.”

Before completing the move, Johnson held discussions with Glasner to understand his potential role in the team. Recently, Justin Devenny and Yeremi Pino have featured behind main striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, while Ismaila Sarr remains away on international duty with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.

How Johnson fell out of favour at Spurs

Johnson had been a vital part of Postecoglou’s Tottenham setup but found himself out of favour following Thomas Frank’s arrival. The signing of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United increased competition in attack, limiting Johnson’s opportunities. During the 2025–26 season, he managed just six Premier League starts, contributing only four goals.

Frank hinted at Johnson’s departure after Tottenham’s goalless draw with Brentford on Thursday, saying: “Yeah, obviously there are some rumours out there and it’s probably close to some of the rumours.”

Johnson to wear No.11 at Crystal Palace

Johnson has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Crystal Palace and will wear the No.11 shirt at Selhurst Park. The club hopes he can make an immediate impact, with upcoming fixtures including an away trip to Newcastle and a home game against Aston Villa. Palace’s fixture list also includes matches against Macclesfield in the FA Cup, Sunderland, Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest.

As for Tottenham, they are expected to reinvest the transfer fee during the January window. The North London side sits 12th in the Premier League and continues to deal with a growing injury list. Frank has acknowledged the need for reinforcements before the window closes at the end of the month.

He recently stated: “We will be active in the market. We’re definitely looking to strengthen the squad if possible. I’ve mentioned before that it’s important any new arrivals genuinely improve the team. And naturally, there could be some departures if we want to keep the squad sharp.”