Anan Khalaily Joins Crystal Palace as Most Expensive Israeli Footballer Ever

Israeli footballer Anan Khalaily has made history by signing with Crystal Palace in the English Premier League, becoming the most expensive Israeli player ever. The winger and defender, formerly of Union Saint-Gilloise, signed a five-year contract with the South London club for a transfer fee of 28 million euros, surpassing the previous Israeli record set by Munas Dabbur in 2019 for 17 million euros.

Khalaily was officially introduced by Crystal Palace on August 15, 2026, via a video on the club’s official X account. In his first interview, he expressed excitement about the new challenge and praised the club’s recent achievements, including winning the FA Cup, English Super Cup, and the UEFA Conference League within just over a year. Khalaily stated, "We want more and we can, I am here to help the team."

Just weeks earlier, Khalaily’s transfer to Italian champions Inter Milan fell through due to medical test issues. Now at Crystal Palace, he is expected to gain significant exposure and potentially move to an even bigger club in the future. Alongside Khalaily, other Israeli players in England include Manor Solomon (West Ham), Daniel Peretz (Southampton), and Liel Abada (Bristol City), though the latter three play in lower divisions.

The transfer also benefits Israeli club Maccabi Haifa, which will receive an estimated 4 million euros from the deal. Crystal Palace, based in South Croydon, London, has been in the Premier League since 2013 and finished 15th last season. The club is set to compete in the Europa League group stage following their Conference League victory.

Notably, Crystal Palace was among the few English clubs to publicly condemn Hamas following the October 7, 2025, massacre, pledging to wear black armbands and observe a minute of silence before their next home game against Tottenham. Khalaily is expected to face top teams soon, including Manchester City in the second round of the Premier League season.