Israeli Player Anan Khalaily Joins Crystal Palace Amid Controversy Over Teammate's Anti-Israel Petition

Israeli footballer Anan Khalaily is set to sign with English Premier League club Crystal Palace within the next day, marking a record transfer for an Israeli player with a fee estimated at 25 million euros. Khalaily will move from Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise to Crystal Palace, completing one of the most notable Israeli football transfers in Europe.

However, the transfer has sparked tension due to Khalaily's expected locker room teammate, Moroccan international defender Shadi Riyad. Riyad was a prominent signatory of a petition circulated in November 2025 accusing Israel of "genocide, apartheid, and crimes against humanity" and calling on UEFA to suspend Israeli sports teams from all competitions. The petition demanded a complete boycott of Israeli sports, stating that no stadium in a civilian Israeli city should host such events.

The situation is particularly sensitive because Crystal Palace is the only English club that publicly condemned the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023. While other Premier League clubs issued hesitant statements, Crystal Palace released a clear message denouncing the massacre and held a minute of silence wearing black armbands to honor the Israeli victims during a home game against Tottenham.

This transfer follows a previous failed attempt by Crystal Palace to sign another Israeli player, Manor Solomon, on loan in September 2025 due to disagreements over purchase options. Now, Khalaily will join a club that has taken a firm stance in support of Israel but will share a defense line with a player who actively participated in a campaign against the Israeli state.

The move highlights the complex intersection of sports and politics, especially in a club that has publicly supported Israel amid ongoing regional conflicts.