Dwight McNeil
 McNeil playing for Burnley in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dwight James Matthew McNeil | ||
| Date of birth | 22 November 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Rochdale, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1] | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Crystal Palace | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2014 | Manchester United | ||
| 2014–2018 | Burnley | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2022 | Burnley | 134 | (7) |
| 2022–2026 | Everton | 114 | (14) |
| 2026– | Crystal Palace | 6 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2019 | England U20 | 6 | (1) |
| 2019–2021 | England U21 | 10 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:30, 31 October 2026 (UTC) | |||
Dwight James Matthew McNeil (born 22 November 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for Premier League club Crystal Palace.
Early life
[edit]
Dwight James Matthew McNeil[2] was born on 22 November 1999[3] in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, to parents Tracy and Matty McNeil, who is a former professional footballer.[4] McNeil has two younger siblings, Baillie and Chiara, and he attended the Oasis Academy in Oldham.[5] He regularly watched his father play in non-League football for Hyde United and first started playing football at the JJB Sports centre in Trafford.[6] It was there that scouts from Bolton Wanderers pursued him for a trial, but after initial rejections from his parents, Bolton eventually got their way and he started training with them.[6]
Club career
[edit]Early career
[edit]At age five, he was offered the chance to join the academy at Manchester United, the club he supported as a child.[6] He stayed in the United academy until the age of 14 when he started struggling for game time and was subsequently released.[6]
Burnley
[edit]Within a week of his release, McNeil went on trial at Burnley's Academy.[7] In July 2016, he was rewarded with a two-year scholarship and was a regular member of the under-18 squad and occasionally played for the Development Squad.[7] In February 2018, he travelled with the first-team squad for the Premier League match against Swansea City but failed to make the match-day squad.[8] On 10 April 2018, following the end of his scholarship, he signed a professional two-year contract with Burnley with the option of a third year in the club's favour.[9] On 13 May 2018, he made his first-team debut in the final match of the 2017–18 season when he replaced Aaron Lennon as a late substitute in the 2–1 home defeat to AFC Bournemouth.[10] McNeil scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 home win against West Ham United on 30 December 2018.[11] On 16 October 2020, McNeil signed a new long-term contract, keeping him at the club until 2024.[12]
Everton
[edit]On 28 July 2022, McNeil signed for Premier League club Everton on a five-year contract.[13] Burnley and Everton came to an agreement for a transfer fee reportedly in the region of £20 million, including potential add-ons.[14] On 6 August, McNeil made his debut for the club in a 1–0 loss against Chelsea in the Premier League.[15] On 1 October 2022, McNeil scored his first goal for Everton in a 2–1 away win over Southampton.[16] On 28 September 2024, McNeil scored a brace against Crystal Palace, helping Everton defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 to get the club's first win of the season.[17] McNeil was set to make a loan move to Crystal Palace with an agreed £20 million transfer obligation on 1 February 2026; however, the deal collapsed as paperwork was not finalised before the transfer deadline.[18] McNeil's partner later took to social media to criticise Crystal Palace and the effect that the failed transfer had on McNeil's mental health.[19]
Crystal Palace
[edit]On 11 August 2026, McNeil joined Crystal Palace on a four-year contract. The deal included Brennan Johnson joining Everton as part of a swap deal.[20] On 22 August, McNeil made his debut for the club, starting in a 2–0 defeat against his former club Everton.[21]
International career
[edit]In March 2019, McNeil received his first call-up for the England national under-20 team ahead of 2018–19 Under 20 Elite League fixtures against Poland and Portugal.[22] McNeil made his debut as a starter in a 3–1 defeat to Poland at St George's Park.[23] In May 2019, he was included in the U20 squad for the 2019 Toulon Tournament[24] and scored his first international goal during the 4–0 victory over Guatemala on 11 June 2019.[25]
On 30 August 2019, McNeil was included in the England under-21 team for the first time.[26] He eventually made his debut in a 2–2 draw against Slovenia in Maribor on 11 October.[27]
On 15 March 2021, McNeil was called up for the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Slovenia and Hungary.[28][29]
Personal life
[edit]He is of Jamaican descent.[30]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 31 October 2026
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Burnley | 2017–18[31] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2018–19[32] | Premier League | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 26 | 3 | |
| 2019–20[33] | Premier League | 38 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 40 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21[34] | Premier League | 36 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 40 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22[35] | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 40 | 0 | ||
| Total | 134 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 147 | 7 | ||
| Everton | 2022–23[36] | Premier League | 36 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 39 | 7 | |
| 2023–24[37] | Premier League | 35 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 41 | 3 | ||
| 2024–25[38] | Premier League | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 23 | 5 | ||
| 2025–26[39] | Premier League | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 25 | 0 | ||
| Total | 114 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 1 | — | 128 | 15 | |||
| Crystal Palace | 2026–27 | Premier League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Career total | 254 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 285 | 22 | ||
- 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
Honours
[edit]Individual
References
[edit]- ↑ "Dwight McNeil: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ↑ "Premier League clubs publish retained lists". Premier League. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ↑ "Dwight McNeil". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
- ↑ "Dream Day For Goalscorer McNeil". Burnley F.C. 31 December 2018. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ↑ Black, Dan (22 April 2020). "The story of Burnley winger Dwight McNeil: Growing up as a footballer's son, his home life and the reason why he's so good on FIFA 20!". Burnley Express. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 Marshall, Tyrone (20 January 2020). "Dwight McNeil exclusive: Burnley winger on Manchester United release, Brandon Williams and Mason Greenwood". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- 1 2 "Burnley profile". Burnley F.C. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
- ↑ Marshall, Tyrone (21 February 2018). "Clarets youngster McNeil wants more after first team taster". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
- ↑ Marshall, Tyrone (10 April 2018). "Burnley prospects sign professional deals". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
- ↑