Anan Khalaily Becomes Israel’s Most Expensive Footballer with Crystal Palace Transfer

Anan Khalaily, an Israeli national team player, has officially joined Crystal Palace in the English Premier League for a record fee of 25 million euros, making him the most expensive Israeli footballer ever. This transfer follows a recent setback when his anticipated move to Inter Milan was canceled due to failed medical tests. Khalaily’s rise has been rapid, having moved from Maccabi Haifa’s youth team to Union Saint-Gilloise, where he won the Belgian league in 2024/25 and the cup the following season.

The article also reviews the top 12 most expensive transfers involving Israeli footballers. Notable transfers include Yossi Benayoun’s move from Liverpool to Chelsea for 7 million euros in 2010, and Eran Zahavi’s 7.2 million euro transfer from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Guangzhou in 2016, where he became the club’s all-time top scorer. Other significant transfers include Daniel Peretz’s 8 million euro move from Bayern Munich to Southampton and Liel Abada’s 8 million euro transfer from Celtic to Charlotte FC in 2024.

Mons Dabour appears twice in the list, with a 17 million euro transfer from Red Bull Salzburg to Sevilla in 2019 and a 12 million euro move from Sevilla to Hoffenheim in 2020. Oscar Gloukh’s transfers from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Salzburg and later to Ajax for 7 million and 14.75 million euros respectively are also highlighted.

The article provides context on the players’ performances and challenges post-transfer, such as Benayoun’s limited success at Chelsea and Dabour’s brief stint at Sevilla. It also notes the financial and career impact of these moves, emphasizing Khalaily’s breakthrough as a new benchmark for Israeli football transfers.

Khalaily’s transfer to Crystal Palace not only marks a personal milestone but also sets a new standard for Israeli players in the global football market, reflecting the growing recognition of Israeli talent internationally.