It’s somewhat ironic that Brennan Johnson’s last Tottenham appearance came against Crystal Palace.
Johnson’s expected final outing in a Spurs shirt was an 85th-minute cameo at Selhurst Park on Sunday. The brief stint off the bench in a 1-0 win effectively summed up his season to date. The Welshman is surplus to requirements under Thomas Frank. He’s made just six league start under the Dane.
In this article, we’ll cover:
“He’s still started quite a few games. I think Brennan is an important player for us,” Frank said of the Wales international over the weekend. Not important enough to keep on the Spurs books, however. Reports on Tuesday suggest that Palace have agreed a £35m fee to sign Johnson this month.
He’ll leave with his legacy intact. Some will be sad to see the back of the Welsh forward. He scored that goal in Bilbao back in May, after all. However, the reasoning behind the decision to sell is sound. Spurs have previously had a knack for holding on to players for the sake of nostalgia. The north London side miss their chance to cash in on unwanted stars.
Lack of defensive contribution limited playing time
The issue comes from the fact Johnson doesn’t really offer enough off the ball. Spurs are a side that sit back and soak up pressure. It may not be pretty, and it hasn’t really been effective this season. Yet that is the Frank way. Pragmatism is the name of the game.
This is evident in that Spurs are making more tackles per game (19.8) than any other team in the Premier League this season. They’re second for ball recoveries (901). Breaking it down to an individual level, Mohammed Kudus is making 1.7 tackles per game. Xavi Simons is chipping in 1.5 per game, while Randal Kolo Muani is averaging 1.2. By comparison, Johnson is making just 0.8 per game.
A lack of defensive contribution is what will have convinced Frank that Johnson isn’t the right fit for Spurs. And to an extent, he has a point. Johnson’s work, or lack thereof, out of possession so often leaves the team effectively playing with 10 men. And for a Spurs side that prioritises defensive resolve over attacking flair, this just won’t fly under Frank.
Johnson has won possession in the attacking third just three times in his 16 league outings. He’s managed just 13 ball recoveries in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign. Admittedly, Johnson hasn’t been a regular starter, meaning he’s been unable to build up consistency. And yet, when he’s been given the chance, the former Forest man hasn’t wholly convinced Frank that he’s the right player for the left flank.
Johnson a better fit for profligate Palace
So, what makes him a better fit for Palace? Well, for a start he’ll play in a system that suits his style of play. Eagles boss Oliver Glasner implements a counter-attacking setup, not too dissimilar to Frank at Spurs. Palace have the fifth lowest possession average (43.4%) in the Premier League this season.
They rely on quick transitions with nippy forwards to catch defences back, evident in that they rank fourth for accurate through balls (17) in the Premier League. While they are one of five sides yet to score a counter-attacking goal this season, they rank seventh for shots following a counter-attack (18) in the division.
And with Glasner utilising a 3-4-2-1 setup, Johnson will be deployed in one of the supporting attacking roles. This means more opportunities to maximise his ability to tuck away chances. Johnson does rank second for Premier League goal involvements for Spurs (31) since he joined from Forest in 2023. A 16.4% conversion rate is the fifth best of the 18 players to have scored more than once over the same period.
Struggles in front of goal keeping Eagles grounded
Johnson may have his shortcomings but few can question his goalscoring ability. This is where Palace have fallen short this season. The south London side have generated 29.55 Expected Goals, the fifth most in the England’s top tier this term. However, they have netted just 21 league goals.
Only Premier League title contenders Arsenal and Manchester City (37) have missed more big chances than Palace (33) in the Premier League this season. A conversion rate of 9.4% is the fourth worst. They’ve scored more than once in just seven of 18 top-flight games.
It’s clear they need a player who can put the ball in the back of the net. Johnson, therefore, ticks this box, and then some. The likelihood is he’ll have a more prominent role in this Palace side, particularly with Ismaila Sarr currently in AFCON action with Senegal.
Some won’t be happy that Spurs are selling Johnson. The forward gave supporters that night in Bilbao back in May. However, the ruthlessness in the market is what has previously held the Europa League winners back. With a desire to invest in the left wing, getting Johnson off the books is a step in the right direction, even if quarters of the fanbase may feel otherwise.
