Forward thinking
A powerful wing-back or winger, blessed with pace to burn and an eye for goal, Anan Khalaili is an athletic, impressive presence in the side.
25AnanKhalaili
Def
Defender
Date of Birth
03.09.0403 September 2004
Country
ILIsraelJoined Team
15.08.2615 August 2026
All time
Palace career
5
Appearances
1
Goals
Khalaili was born in the Israeli city of Haifa in a sporting family, with his family hailing from the nearby town of Sakhnin.
It was a sporting family into which Khalaili was born – his father being a former goalkeeper and coach, and his younger brother, Iyad, currently a midfielder at Maccabi Haifa.
Anan Khalaili, however, began his journey at the academy of local side Beitar Haifa in 2012, spending two years there – reputedly playing his first game in goal, prior to moving outfield – before moving to Maccabi.
A season-long spell at FC Neve Yosef, Haifa’s youth team whom his father helped to coach, led to Khalaili’s promotion to the senior set-up, after – playing up front – the teenager netted 25 times in 24 appearances. Some strike rate – and his side won the U19 league title to boot.
Khalaili’s advanced positioning saw him played up front for much of his youth career, including at Under-19s and Under-20s level – where he enjoyed another breakthrough at the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina.
Defying the odds, Israel – tournament debutants – finished third, with Khalaili scoring three times in the knockout rounds, including a 97th minute winner against Uzbekistan in the Round of 16 and a decisive third goal to eliminate Brazil in extra-time in the quarter-finals.
Also on target in the third-place play-off, the culmination of Khalaili’s performances were enough to convince Maccabi Haifa to recall him from his initially-planned two-year loan at Neve Yosef, and promote him to the first-team set-up.
The following season, it soon became clear that his electrifying pace and running power saw him better suited to a wide role. Fittingly, his senior debut goal arrived in a 4-0 win over Maltese side Hamrun Spartans in July 2023 in UEFA Champions League qualifying – and by November, he had made a senior international debut for Israel against Switzerland.
He went on to feature 50 times in all competitions for Maccabi in his debut senior season – including in the UEFA Europa League and Conference League – scoring 14 times and registering six assists, as his club finished second.
Khalaili’s transfer to Belgian Pro League side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise was first reported in April 2024 and was confirmed the following summer for a club-record fee received for Haifa.
He started as he meant to go on in Belgium, debuting as a late substitute in RUSG’s 2-1 Belgian Super Cup victory over Club Brugge in July of that year.
After initial regular appearances as a substitute, Khalaili established himself as a first-team regular within a handful of months, starting his team’s last 14 matches – and playing 47 times in all competitions – to help RUSG to rapid improvement.
Where the team had finished third domestically the previous campaign, Khalaili’s debut season saw them not only compete in the UEFA Europa League, but also win a first Belgian Pro League title in 90 years at the culmination of 2024/25.
With that success, UEFA Champions League football came calling in 2025/26 – and Khalaili duly rose to the challenge, scoring three times – a brace against Marseille and the winner against Atalanta – in the league stages.
The following season, he was a trophy-winner once more, starting in RUSG’s 2026 Belgian Cup Final win over Anderlecht to lift the fourth trophy of his fledgling career.
The 21-year-old also possesses an impressive 16 caps for Israel, and has established himself as a first-choice pick for his country despite his tender years.
With eight goals and 11 assists in 101 games in Belgium to his name, Palace fans can expect pace, power, panache – and a player with the strongest of willpower – to soon greet them at Selhurst Park.
Player Statistics2026/27
Goals1
Appearances5
Attack
Goals Inside Box
1
Goals Outside Box
0
Right Foot
1
Left Foot
0
Shots
6
Shots on target
1
Hit woodwork
0
Penalties taken
0
Penalties scored
0
Touches
288
Touches in opposition box
11
Defence
Aerial duels
9
Aerial duels won
5
Interceptions
6
Blocks
1
Recoveries
26
Tackles won
12
Duels won
28
Clearances
15
Team
Minutes
380
Attempted passes
149
Successful passes
116
Touches
288
Chances created
3
Crosses
1
Discipline
Yellow cards
1
Red cards
0
Fouls won
1
Fouls Conceded
4
01 / 04
Player StatisticsCareer
Goals1
Appearances5
Season by season
Season
Games
Goals
Crystal Palace
26/27
5
1