Anan Khalaili becomes Israeli soccer’s most expensive transfer ever by joining Crystal Palace in London

Israeli-Arab Anan Khalaili became Israeli soccer’s most expensive transfer ever this week, joining Crystal Palace in the British capital for a record £21 million ($28 million), capping one of the most successful periods of Israeli soccer players in recent years.

The 21-year-old signed a contract through 2031 with a sixth-year option at the London club, after several high-profile European clubs sought to buy him after a successful season at Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise.

In his two years at Saint-Gilloise, he scored 14 goals and 15 assists, including three goals in last season’s Champions League, the world’s premier soccer competition.

The journey starts now. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/NvIU6Z06RR

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 15, 2026

The previous Israeli record was also held by a fellow Israeli Arab, Munas Dabbur, who joined Sevilla FC for a fee of €17 million ($19 million) in 2019.

The quick and athletic winger hails from the mixed Jewish-Arab city of Haifa in northern Israel. He progressed through Maccabi Haifa's youth system and into the senior team, before joining Saint-Gilloise in 2024.

Khalaili has also represented Israel on the international stage in sixteen appearances for the national team so far.

We've seen Anan Khalaili dominating the wing. 🥹

Now he's off to Crystal Palace and the Premier League.

A Belgian title. A Belgian Cup. Two Supercups.

Pace, talent and unforgettable moments on the pitch. A humble and genuine guy off it.

Thank you for everything, Anan.… pic.twitter.com/SpKzetdeuf

— Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (@UnionStGilloise) August 15, 2026

Upon joining Crystal Palace, he said, “I’m happy to be here, I’m full of excitement, and I can’t wait to get started. I’ve followed the Premier League – it’s a new challenge for me – and I’ve been following Crystal Palace for a long time. I’m happy to be here.”

The transfer was greeted with universal pride in Israel’s sports world. Israeli activist Yoseph Haddad, who is an Israeli-Arab like Khalaili, sarcastically pointed out how his career disproved accusations of Apartheid in Israel in a post on 𝕏.

“An Israeli Arab soccer player who plays for the Israeli national team, was born in Israel, grew up in Israel, learned to play soccer in Israel, and started his career in Israel – has become the most valuable Israeli soccer player in history and will play next season in the world's best league, the Premier League. What a terrible apartheid!”

כדורגלן ערבי ישראלי שמשחק בנבחרת ישראל, נולד בישראל, גדל בישראל, למד לשחק כדורגל בישראל והתחיל את הקריירה שלו בישראל- הפך לכדורגלן הישראלי היקר בהיסטוריה וישחק בעונה הקרובה בליגה הטובה בעולם הפרמייר ליג.
איזה אפרטהייד נוראי!
מברוק ענאן, בהצלחה!! pic.twitter.com/4MBgFWne9g

— יוסף חדאד - Yoseph Haddad (@YosephHaddad) August 15, 2026

Sports analyst Liam Zaguri projects that Khalaili could eventually become the country’s greatest player ever, even overtaking legends Yossi Benayoun and Eyal Berkovich.

“He is very fast, technical, a good passer, physically and mentally strong, and in Belgium he proved that he can perform perhaps one of the most demanding roles on the pitch – an attacking wing-back in a back five,” he wrote on Ynet.

“Khalaili will go on to become the greatest Israeli footballer ever to emerge from here, and could even surpass the careers of Eyal Berkovic and Yossi Benayoun. The reason is simple: we haven't had a player with this kind of package in a very long time. Exceptional athleticism, strength, speed, football intelligence, and the ability to influence the game at both ends of the pitch."

Israel wins bronze in the U20 World Cup with a 3-1 victory over South Korea. A goal and an assist for Israeli Arab Anan Khalaili.

Jews and Arabs as brothers.

Terrific example of coexistence. pic.twitter.com/vR9gjo9DZo

— David May (@DavidSamuelMay) June 11, 2023

Khalaili will join several fellow Israeli standouts in the Premier League, including goalkeeper Daniel Peretz at Southampton and Manor Salomon at Aston Villa. Israel’s offensive hope, Oscar Gloukh, currently plays at Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, another great hope for Israeli soccer has emerged on the youth team of FC Barcelona, one of the world’s biggest clubs.

Orian Goren Highlights pic.twitter.com/oSC2CSuTRo

— XDcomps (@XDcomps) July 31, 2026

Israeli midfielder Orian Goren, who just turned 17, was invited to train with the senior squad during the opening phase of pre-season, highlighting the great expectations the club has in him.

Goren was born in Israel to a Czech mother and an Israeli father and joined Barcelona in 2023 from Maccabi Petah Tikva, quickly establishing himself as a regular starter in the youth team at La Masia, Barcelona’s legendary talent factory that produced Lionel Messi.

At the end of July, Goren made his senior team debut in a friendly match against Birmingham City. Shortly after, manager Hansi Flick included Goren in a short list of three youngsters who impressed him in the preseason, noting the Israeli standout was “a great talent.”