Crystal Palace Sign Rising Star Khalaili for £21 Million

Crystal Palace have landed one of Europe’s more intriguing young attackers, confirming the signing of Israel international Khalaili from Union Saint-Gilloise in a deal worth a reported £21 million.

The 21-year-old has signed a long-term contract at Selhurst Park running until 2031, a clear statement that Palace see him as a cornerstone of their next era rather than a short-term gamble.

A Rising Star with a Versatile Edge

Khalaili arrives with a reputation for flexibility and end product. Capped 16 times by Israel, he can operate as a full-back or higher up as a winger, giving Palace head coach Sage valuable options on both flanks.

His breakthrough came at Maccabi Haifa, where he struck 15 goals in 52 appearances and lifted the 2023 Super Cup. That haul, from a player so comfortable shuttling between defensive and attacking roles, quickly pushed him into the spotlight.

Belgium was where his rise accelerated. At Union Saint-Gilloise, he played his part in ending a 90-year wait for a league title in the 2024-25 campaign, then backed it up by helping the club to the Belgian Cup last season. Two major trophies in quick succession, in two different countries, before the age of 22: Palace are buying a player already hardened by pressure games.

“A New Challenge” in the Premier League

Speaking to the club’s official channels after sealing the move, Khalaili made it clear this is a step he has been eyeing for some time.

"I have followed the Premier League for a long time, it's a new challenge for me," he said, embracing the leap into English football’s intensity rather than shying away from it.

His admiration for his new club also ran through his first words in red and blue.

"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."

Ambition, not nostalgia, framed his message. Palace’s recent successes are a platform in his mind, not a ceiling.

Palace’s Rebuild Takes Shape

This is not an isolated signing. It is another piece in an increasingly deliberate rebuild.

Khalaili becomes Palace’s fifth arrival of the summer, reinforcing the sense that the club’s hierarchy are backing Sage with depth and variety across the pitch. The Eagles had already moved to strengthen their defensive core, bringing in Oscar Mingueza and Takehiro Tomiyasu on free transfers, smart business that frees up funds for attacking investment.

Up front, the picture has shifted again. Dwight McNeil has arrived in a swap deal that saw Brennan Johnson depart, altering the profile of Palace’s wide options. Evann Guessand is back too, returning on a season-long loan from Aston Villa to add another body – and another style – to the forward line.

Drop Khalaili into that mix and Palace suddenly look far less predictable. A full-back who can surge into the final third, a winger who understands defensive responsibility, an Israel international already tested in title races: he ticks boxes across the tactical board.

The fee, the contract length, the timing – all of it points to a club betting that this is the moment to turn potential into sustained progress. Now the question is simple: can Khalaili turn that faith into Premier League impact at Selhurst Park?