Israeli Footballer Anan Khalaily Signs Record Deal with Crystal Palace

Anan Khalaily officially signed with Crystal Palace of the English Premier League on Saturday, concluding his two-year stint at Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise. The transfer fee was 21 million pounds, marking the highest amount ever paid for an Israeli footballer. Khalaily's move to the London club was agreed upon about a week ago after a planned transfer to Italian champions Inter Milan fell through due to failed medical tests.

The 21-year-old Khalaily had a successful tenure at Union Saint-Gilloise, making 99 appearances, winning the Belgian league and cup titles, and scoring in the UEFA Champions League. He developed at Maccabi Haifa and gained international recognition during the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he helped Israel reach the semifinals and scored key goals against Uzbekistan and Brazil. In the 2023/24 season, he played 50 games and scored 14 goals for Maccabi Haifa's senior team before moving to Europe.

Crystal Palace has enjoyed strong recent success, winning the UEFA Conference League last season and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League this season. The club also won the FA Cup two seasons ago by defeating Manchester City in the final. Khalaily's transfer follows a similar recent move by Israeli player Manor Solomon, who signed with West Ham United after a failed medical at Inter Milan.