Crystal Palace are closing in on a major January signing, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the deal for Tottenham Hotspur winger Brennan Johnson is at the final stages.
Tottenham have granted permission for the 24-year-old Wales international to discuss personal terms with the Eagles, paving the way for a potential club-record transfer.
Romano’s latest update indicates a medical could follow imminently, and crucially, Johnson will not be in Spurs’ squad for their New Year’s Day clash against Brentford – a strong signal that the move is advancing rapidly. “Palace are on it. Here we go, soon,” the transfer expert declared.
The agreement between the clubs is understood to be worth around £35 million, eclipsing Palace’s previous record fee of £27m paid for Christian Benteke in 2016. Sources including Sky Sports, ESPN, The Guardian, and The Athletic confirm the fee structure, with Palace leading the race despite earlier interest from Bournemouth, Everton, and Sunderland.
Johnson, who joined Tottenham from Nottingham Forest in 2023 for £47.5m, was a standout performer last season, topping Spurs’ goalscoring charts with 18 goals across all competitions. His most iconic moment came in May 2025, scoring the winner in the Europa League final against Manchester United to end the club’s long trophy drought.
However, the summer arrival of manager Thomas Frank and winger Mohammed Kudus has seen Johnson drop down the pecking order, starting just six Premier League games this term. Frank has publicly praised Johnson’s professionalism but acknowledged the need to reshape the squad.
For Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, Johnson’s pace, direct running, and clinical finishing represent an ideal reinforcement amid a congested schedule involving Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Conference League commitments. With Ismaïla Sarr at the Africa Cup of Nations and Eddie Nketiah recently injured, attacking depth is a priority.
If completed swiftly, Johnson could even be available for Palace’s upcoming fixture against Newcastle. The move would keep the London-based player in the capital, allowing him to push for regular minutes and potentially revive his form under Glasner’s attacking system alongside stars like Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eberechi Eze.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are expected to reinvest the funds, with links to younger wide options such as RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande. As the January window opens on this New Year’s Day 2026, all eyes are on Selhurst Park for confirmation of what could be one of the window’s early blockbuster deals.