The girlfriend of Everton winger Dwight McNeil, Megan Sharpley, has criticised Crystal Palace and questioned the football industry’s treatment of players following the late collapse of his proposed move on deadline day.

Reports suggested that Palace had agreed a £20 million deal to sign the 26-year-old on Monday evening. However, the transfer fell through at the final stage after the club altered its plans late in the window.

Crystal Palace had already committed a club-record £48 million to sign Jørgen Strand Larsen and were also dealing with uncertainty surrounding Jean-Philippe Mateta’s failed move to AC Milan. As a result, they withdrew from negotiations with Everton.

The Eagles, who won the FA Cup last season, are currently enduring a difficult run of form, having failed to win in 12 matches and slipping towards the Premier League relegation zone.

In a series of Instagram posts shared by McNeil, Sharpley highlighted the emotional strain caused by the transfer process and accused the industry of overlooking players’ mental wellbeing.

“In football, why do we find it acceptable, just because these young men earn a lot of money, that it’s okay to play with their mental health and say it’s ‘part of the job’?” she wrote.

“No matter how much money someone makes, everyone deserves to be treated with respect, kindness and fairness.

“I really question the industry tonight, and I hope more is done in the future to protect people from situations like this. Football is brutal, and it may be the nature of the business, but playing with people’s feelings and emotions should never be acceptable.”

McNeil, who has scored 15 goals in 120 appearances for Everton since joining the club in 2022, also addressed the situation on social media.

“Even now I’m still left in the dark,” he said. “But what I do know is that I am an Everton player, and I have been supported by the club.”

The winger is expected to remain at Goodison Park as Everton focus on their campaign for the remainder of the season.