Crystal Palace signs Anan Khalaili in most expensive deal for an Israeli soccer player
LONDON — Crystal Palace announced the signing of Anan Khalaili from Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on Saturday, weeks after the Israel winger’s proposed move to Inter Milan broke down.
The 21-year-old Khalaili, who primarily plays on the right, signed a five-year deal “subject to international clearance,” the Premier League team said on its website. British media reported the transfer fee was 24.5 million euros ($28 million), making him the most expensive Israeli signing.
“I’m happy to be here, I’m excited, and I can’t wait to start,” said Khalaili.
“I’ve followed the Premier League –- it’s a new challenge for me –- and I’ve followed Crystal Palace for a long time. I’m happy to be here.”
“We are very excited to have completed this signing and we are delighted that Anan has chosen to continue his journey with Crystal Palace,” said Palace chairman Steve Parrish.
The transfer comes a month after Inter president Giuseppe Marotta said at a press conference that Khalaili had not been given medical clearance to join after the sides had agreed on a transfer. Marotta said: “Italy has very strict legislation protecting players’ health, with decisions made by an independent body rather than the club’s medical staff. We have to abide by this decision.”
Come behind the scenes with Anan ???? pic.twitter.com/pdjeMqDYQq
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 15, 2026
Inter’s loss is seemingly Palace’s gain.
Khalaili developed at hometown club Maccabi Haifa before moving to Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgum in 2024.
Khalaili has made 16 appearances for Israel. He is the fifth summer signing for Palace after Óscar Mingueza, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Dwight McNeil and Evann Guessand.
Times of Israel Staff contributed to this report
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
— Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel – to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Crystal Palace has signed Israeli winger Anan Khalaili from Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise for a reported 24.5 million euros ($28 million), making him the most expensive Israeli soccer player. The 21-year-old signed a five-year deal, weeks after his proposed move to Inter Milan fell through due to medical clearance issues in Italy. Khalaili, who primarily plays on the right, expressed his excitement, stating, "I'm happy to be here, I'm excited, and I can't wait to start." Palace chairman Steve Parrish added, "We are very excited to have completed this signing." Khalaili, who has 16 appearances for Israel, previously played for Maccabi Haifa before joining Union Saint-Gilloise in 2024.
© All rights to the original article belong to the source. Din Online shows a headline, an excerpt and a link only. The objectivity rating is computed automatically and is an estimate only.
Discussion
No comments yet — be the first to comment.