Anan Khalaili poised to join Crystal Palace in reported £21m transfer
On August 10, 2026, Anan Khalaili, a 21-year-old Israeli right winger, was reported to be close to completing a move to Crystal Palace from Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, a transfer said to value him at £21 million and coming a month after a proposed move to Inter Milan collapsed following a failed medical.
Khalaili emerged from Maccabi Haifa’s academy, where he scored 11 goals to help win the Israeli U19 Championship, before making his senior debut in 2022 and moving to Union SG in 2024 for a club-record fee of €6.5 million. Comfortable on the right flank as a winger or right midfielder, he is described in reports as possessing pace, adaptability and strong dribbling in one-on-one situations. He was born in Haifa and is 21 years old.
At Royale Union Saint‑Gilloise Khalaili featured in the side that won the Belgian Super Cup in 2024 and was part of the team during their league success in the 2024-25 season, which the club marked as its first top-flight title in 90 years. The playing time and results in Belgium contributed to his profile ahead of the proposed Premier League move.
Internationally, Khalaili scored three goals for Israel at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup as the nation finished third in the tournament, a performance that led to his promotion to the senior national team. He has accumulated 16 caps for Israel since his elevation to the senior side.
Multiple media accounts give differing financial details: several outlets reported Crystal Palace would pay £21 million ($32.5 million), while other sources referenced a package of €28 million including bonuses and a sell-on clause. One report noted the clubs were finalising remaining details and that a full agreement was not expected immediately but could arrive within 48 hours.
Reports also recalled that Khalaili’s previous proposed transfer to Inter Milan fell through after he failed a medical, an event that preceded the current negotiations with Crystal Palace by about a month. The sequence of moves has been central to coverage of his transfer prospects this summer.
Khalaili’s playing profile in reports emphasises explosive acceleration, the capacity to make penetrating runs behind defences, ball-interception ability and a willingness to press opponents, traits cited as useful both in advanced wide roles and in deeper structural positions on the right side.
If the deal is finalised within the reported timeframe, media have indicated the fee would make Khalaili the most highly valued Israeli player on record; further confirmation of the transfer was expected once the clubs completed paperwork and announced the agreement.