Crystal Palace Signs Anan Khalaily in Record Israeli Transfer

Anan Khalaily has become the most expensive Israeli footballer ever after Crystal Palace officially announced his signing from Union Saint-Gilloise for approximately £21 million (25 million euros). The Israeli national team player signed a contract until summer 2031 with an option for a sixth year, earning around £1.5 million per season. Maccabi Haifa will receive about 3 million euros from the deal. Khalaily will continue wearing the number 25 jersey, as he did in Belgium.

Earlier, Napoli was the first Italian club to offer for Khalaily, but Union Saint-Gilloise rejected the bid. Inter Milan then agreed on a 25 million euro transfer, and Khalaily even passed medical tests at the club. However, he failed the Italian Olympic Committee's medical examination, causing the transfer to be canceled. He returned to Saint-Gilloise, helped them win the Belgian Super Cup, and attracted renewed interest from English clubs.

Despite finishing 15th in the Premier League last season, Crystal Palace secured the UEFA Conference League title and will compete in the Europa League group stage. They outbid Nottingham Forest to sign Khalaily as a key acquisition for the 2026/27 season. The club also made other signings, including Dwight McNeil from Everton, Oscar Mingueza, and Takehiro Tomiyasu on free transfers, and brought back Ewan Gassan on loan from Aston Villa.

Khalaily, 21, joined Union Saint-Gilloise from Maccabi Haifa in summer 2024 for about 7.5 million euros. He quickly established himself as a promising midfielder in Europe, contributing six goals and six assists in 52 appearances last season, including three goals in the Champions League, notably a brace against Marseille and a winning goal versus Atalanta.