Crystal Palace Sign Anan Khalaili in Record Israeli Transfer
Crystal Palace have stepped into a transfer story that looked finished and dragged it in a completely different direction, completing the signing of Anan Khalaili from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in a deal worth a reported €24.5 million ($28 million).
The 21-year-old Israel international has signed a five-year contract at Selhurst Park, the club confirmed on Saturday, with the agreement still “subject to international clearance.” If the reported fee is accurate, Khalaili becomes the most expensive Israeli footballer in history.
“I’m happy to be here, I’m excited, and I can’t wait to start,” Khalaili said after the move was announced. “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.”
Palace chairman Steve Parish underlined how hard the club had pushed to get the deal over the line.
“We are very excited to have completed this signing and we are delighted that Anan has chosen to continue his journey with Crystal Palace,” Parish said.
For Palace, it is a statement signing. For Khalaili, it is a rapid change of direction.
Only a month ago, Inter Milan believed they had their man. The Serie A giants had agreed a transfer with Union Saint-Gilloise, only for the move to collapse when the player did not receive medical clearance under Italian regulations.
Inter president Giuseppe Marotta explained the situation at a press conference, stressing that the decision had been taken out of the club’s hands.
“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,” Marotta said.
Inter walked away. Palace stepped in. Inter’s loss is now Palace’s calculated gamble.
Khalaili arrives in England after a sharp rise through the European game. He came through the ranks at hometown club Maccabi Haifa, establishing himself there before earning his move to Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium in 2024. Primarily a right-sided winger, he brings direct running, creativity and a goal threat from wide areas, attributes that have already earned him 16 caps for Israel.
His signing continues a busy summer at Selhurst Park. Khalaili becomes Palace’s fifth arrival of the window, following Óscar Mingueza, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Dwight McNeil and Evann Guessand, as the club reshapes its squad around a younger, more dynamic core.
The fee, the length of the contract and the timing after the failed Inter switch all point to one thing: Palace are backing Khalaili to be far more than just another wide option. They are betting on him becoming one of the faces of their next era.
Now the question moves from medical reports and transfer clauses to the pitch: how quickly can he turn that promise into Premier League impact under the Selhurst Park lights?
