Inter Milan Nears Record-Breaking Deal for Israeli Defender Anan Khalaily

Israeli defender Anan Khalaily is on the verge of a major transfer to Italian champions Inter Milan, with reports from Italy indicating the deal could be finalized soon. On July 5, 2026, Union Saint-Gilloise, Khalaily's current Belgian club, played a friendly match without him to avoid risking the player ahead of the transfer. Journalist Nicolo Shira reported that Inter is set to pay 20 million euros to Union Saint-Gilloise, less than the club's initial 25 million euro asking price. The gap is expected to be bridged through bonuses and future resale percentages.

Khalaily has already agreed to personal terms with Inter, signing a contract until 2031 with an annual salary of 1.8 million euros, contingent on the transfer's completion. This offer surpasses Napoli's previous proposal of 1.5 million euros per season, making Inter's deal more lucrative for the player. If completed, this transfer will break the record for the most expensive Israeli player move, surpassing Sevilla's 17 million euro signing of Munas Dabbur in 2019.

Khalaily is expected to replace Denzel Dumfries, who recently joined Real Madrid, and will compete for playing time as a wing-back in Inter's three-center-back formation, alongside Brazilian Luis Henrique. Khalaily joined Union Saint-Gilloise in summer 2024 for 6.5 million euros and last season appeared in 52 matches, scoring six goals and providing six assists.