Crystal Palace Sign Versatile Young Attacker Khalaili for £21m

Crystal Palace have landed one of Europe’s more intriguing young attackers, sealing a deal for Israel international Khalaili from Union Saint-Gilloise for a reported £21m on a contract running until 2031.

The 21-year-old arrives with a reputation for versatility and end product. Capped 16 times by his country, he can operate as a full-back or higher up as a winger, a profile that fits neatly with Palace’s push for tactical flexibility under Sage.

Khalaili first burst onto the scene at Maccabi Haifa, where he scored 15 goals in 52 appearances and helped the club lift the 2023 Super Cup. That form earned him his move to Belgium, and his rise only 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 followed it up by lifting the Belgian Cup last season.

Premier League Challenge

Now comes the Premier League test.

“I have followed the Premier League for a long time, it's a new challenge for me,” he told the club’s official channels after completing the move, making it clear he sees this as the next big step in his career rather than a finishing line.

His admiration for his new surroundings was just as pointed. “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.” For a player of his age, that is a bold statement of intent, and one that will resonate with a fanbase eager to see the club turn potential into silverware.

This signing slots into a broader, deliberate rebuild at Selhurst Park. Palace’s hierarchy have backed Sage with a squad reshaped to compete on multiple fronts, with Khalaili becoming the club’s fifth arrival of the summer.

The defence has already been reinforced by free-transfer additions Oscar Mingueza and Takehiro Tomiyasu, giving Sage extra security and technical quality at the back. Higher up the pitch, the attack has been retooled: Dwight McNeil has come in as part of a swap deal that saw Brennan Johnson depart, while Evann Guessand has returned on a season-long loan from Aston Villa to add further options in the forward line.

Now Khalaili joins that mix, a young, driven signing tied down to a long contract. Palace have laid out their intentions. The question is no longer whether they are rebuilding — it’s how far this new-look side can push the ceiling.