A 21-year-old footballer has become Israel’s most expensive player ever by signing for Crystal Palace in a deal worth £21 million.
Arab-Israeli Anan Khalaili, who was born in Haifa, has joined the Premier League side weeks after a move to Italian side Inter Milan collapsed at the last minute.
“I have followed the Premier League for a long time, it's a new challenge for me,” Khalaili said.
“And Crystal Palace I like, because I have followed them for a long time. They have deserved to win three trophies and I want to do more.”
Starring for Palace, Khalaili would get the chance to play European football as they won the UEFA Conference League last season, meaning they move up to the Europa League in the new campaign.
In a post on the club’s Instagram account, he said: “They’ve deserved to win three trophies – and I want to do more. It’s not enough to win three trophies. We want to do more, as we can, and I’m here to help the team.”
"I had four trophies in two years in Belgium – not bad! It’s a new challenge, I love that and I am ready.”
"I’m strong, fast, and like to dribble. I want to help the team and to show the fans my quality.”
Khalaili, who can play at full back or on the wing, has represented Israel 16 times and arrives from Belgian Pro League outfit Union Saint-Gilloise.
The transfer comfortably tops the previous record fee paid for an Israeli player, the £15 million which Sevilla paid to Red Bull Salzburg for Mu’nas Dabbur in 2019.
Khalaili grew up in Haifa after his family moved from the Arab village of Sakhnin in Israel.
He followed in his father’s footsteps as his dad, Majdi, was a player and manager, and his younger brother Iyad plays for the Israeli team Maccabi Haifa.
He made 53 appearances for Maccabi Haifa, scoring 15 goals, before joining Union SG in 2024. He played 101 times and scored eight goals for the Belgian team.
Inter Milan pulled out of a deal to sign him in July after his medical.
Nottingham Forest then reportedly had a £17 million bid to sign him rejected by Unioin SG.
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