Anan Khalaili is twenty-one, has won a Belgian league title and in July was a step away from Serie A. On 15 August he signed for Crystal Palace, for a fee the British press puts at around 21 million pounds. In between lies a story that says less about the player than about how national regulations decide where a footballer is allowed to play.
The profile at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Player | Anan Khalaili |
| Born | 3 September 2004 (21) |
| Place of birth | Haifa, Israel |
| Position | Winger, mainly on the right |
| Height | 1.83 m |
| Foot | Right |
| Club | Crystal Palace (since 15 August 2026) |
| Contract | to 2031 |
| International | Israel, 16 caps |
The path
Khalaili was developed in Haifa, first at Beitar and then at Maccabi, and made his senior debut in February 2022 at seventeen. In 2023-24 with Maccabi Haifa he put together thirty appearances and eight goals, numbers that opened the door to western Europe.
In July 2024 he joined Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium and stayed two seasons: seventy-two league appearances and five goals. The first of those campaigns ended with the national title, Union’s first in ninety years, with Khalaili a settled part of the rotation.
For a young player arriving from a peripheral league, Belgium is the classic intermediate step: competitive enough to get noticed, manageable in terms of pressure, with European exposure guaranteed by the continental competitions. Khalaili used it for exactly what it is worth.
What he does on the pitch
The profile is that of a right-sided winger who is right-footed, so not an inverted one. That distinction matters, because it changes the type of actions he produces: fewer cuts inside for the curled shot, more carries towards the byline and crosses, with the option of attacking the defensive line in width rather than coming inside.
The traits he is credited with are work rate, dribbling in tight areas and considerable positional versatility: over his career he has been used high on the flank, as a wing-back, as a full-back and on occasion in more central roles. In modern football that flexibility is not a detail, because it lets a coach change shape without changing personnel.
The rest of the picture is consistent: an open first touch, the ability to carry the ball forward under pressure, defensive discipline on his side. He is the profile of a winger who serves the team rather than a soloist.
The chapter that explains the price
In July Khalaili was very close to Inter. The deal collapsed on 13 July because the player did not obtain the sporting fitness certification required to be registered in Italy, a circumstance the Italian club confirmed publicly.
A clarification usually missing from transfer coverage is needed here. Italian law requires a medical certification for competitive activity that has no direct equivalent in the other major European leagues: a player can be ineligible for registration in Serie A while remaining perfectly eligible elsewhere. It is not a contradiction between doctors, it is a difference between regulatory systems.
The practical effect on the market is measurable. A deal that collapses in mid-July for a reason the buyer cannot solve leaves the player idle in the hottest part of the window, and whoever comes along afterwards negotiates from a different position. Crystal Palace bought inside that window.
What to expect in the Premier League
The step up from the Belgian league to the Premier League is one of the hardest for a winger, because what changes above all is the speed at which space closes. In Belgium a successful dribble often produces a genuine one-against-one; in England it almost always produces an immediate double team.
The players who survive that transition are the ones who accept simplification: fewer carries, more lay-offs, and the dribble saved for the moments that really call for it. Khalaili has the technical background to do it, and having already played several roles suggests he can adapt to different demands.
The contract to 2031 shows how the club reads the deal: not an immediate upgrade but a five-year investment. The correct yardstick for a twenty-one-year-old in his first top-tier league is not September’s goals but January’s minutes.
Data and information gathered from public sources: official club communications, Wikipedia, international news agencies, statistical portals and public transfer archives. Financial figures are press reports.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Anan Khalaili?
An Israeli winger born in Haifa on 3 September 2004. He is 1.83 m tall, right-footed, and played for Maccabi Haifa and Union Saint-Gilloise before joining Crystal Palace on 15 August 2026.
How much did Crystal Palace pay?
The British press reports a figure of around 21 million pounds on a contract to 2031. Other accounts mention roughly 24.5 million euros. These are press figures, not official contract data.
Why did the move to Inter fall through?
Because in July 2026 he did not obtain the sporting fitness certification required to be registered in Serie A, as the Italian club confirmed publicly. Italian rules include a medical certification with no direct equivalent in other leagues.
What position does he play?
Mainly right wing, though across his career he has also been used as a wing-back, a full-back, a midfielder and occasionally further forward. Versatility is one of his recognised traits.
What are his career numbers?
Thirty appearances and eight goals for Maccabi Haifa in 2023-24, seventy-two appearances and five goals for Union Saint-Gilloise between 2024 and 2026, with the Belgian title won in 2024-25. He has sixteen caps for Israel.
