Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Israeli winger Anan Khalaili from Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise, just weeks after his proposed move to Inter Milan collapsed over a medical clearance issue.
The 21-year-old has agreed a contract with Palace until the summer of 2031, although the transfer remains subject to the necessary international clearance, the Premier League club confirmed on Saturday.
The deal is worth about £21m, which is approximately €24.5m, according to the BBC.
Khalaili, who comes from a Palestinian Arab family from the 1948 Arab territories, had been expected to join Inter after the Italian club reached an agreement with Union Saint-Gilloise. That transfer ultimately failed to go through, allowing Palace to secure the winger’s move to the Premier League.
Inter president Giuseppe Marotta said last month that the club had been unable to complete the signing because Khalaili had not received the required medical clearance.
“Italy has very strict legislation to protect the health of players, and decisions are taken by an independent body rather than the club’s medical staff. We have to comply with that decision,” Marotta said at a news conference.
Khalaili becomes Crystal Palace’s fifth signing of the summer transfer window. He joins after the club brought in Oscar Mingueza and Takehiro Tomiyasu on free transfers, signed Dwight McNeil as part of a deal involving Brennan Johnson, and added Evann Guessand on a season-long loan from Aston Villa.
The winger began his career at hometown club Maccabi Haifa before moving to Union Saint-Gilloise in 2024. He primarily operates on the right wing but can also play as a full-back.
Khalaili has made 16 appearances for the Israel national team.
He said he had followed the Premier League for a long time and viewed the move to south London as the next major challenge in his career.
“I have watched the Premier League for a long time, and this is a new experience and a new challenge for me,” Khalaili said.
He also spoke positively about his new club, saying he had tracked Palace for an extended period.
“I like Crystal Palace because I have followed them for a long time. They deserved to win three titles, and I want to achieve more with them,” he added.
The transfer gives Palace another attacking option on the right, while Khalaili will now begin adapting to English football after a season in Belgium. His arrival follows the breakdown of his move to Inter and marks his first opportunity to play in the Premier League.