Anan Khalaili has become the most expensive Israeli footballer in history after Crystal Palace officially announced his purchase from Union Saint-Gilloise for approximately £21 million (€24.5 million). The Israeli national team player signed a contract through the summer of 2031 with an option for a sixth year, and will earn approximately £1.5 million per season. Maccabi Haifa will receive about €3 million from the deal. Khalaili will continue to wear the No. 25 jersey, just as he did in Belgium.
Napoli was the first team from Italy to submit an offer for Khalaili, but it was rejected by Union Saint-Gilloise, after which Inter Milan entered the picture. The Nerazzurri reached an agreement on a €25 million transfer, and Khalaili landed in Italy and passed the medical examinations at the club, but not those of the Italian Olympic Committee, leading to the cancellation of the transfer. He returned to play for Saint-Gilloise and helped it win the Belgian Super Cup, while interest from England intensified at the same time.
Although Crystal Palace finished 15th place in the Premier League last season, they won the Conference League and will therefore play in the League Phase of the Europa League. It ultimately beat out Nottingham Forest in the race for Khalaili’s services, signing him as a key addition for the 2026/27 season. The club paid Everton a similar amount for Dwight McNeil, signed Oscar Mingueza and Takehiro Tomiyasu as free agents, and brought back Evann Guessand on loan from Aston Villa.
The 21-year-old Khalaili joined Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise from Maccabi Haifa in the summer of 2024 for about €7.5 million, established himself as one of the most promising wide players in Europe following their Belgian championship win and performances in the Champions League, and entered the shortlists of the continent’s biggest clubs.
In the past season, the Israeli national team player contributed six goals and six assists in 52 matches in all competitions for Union Saint-Gilloise. Three of his goals came in the Champions League, including a brace against Marseille and a winning goal against Atalanta.