Anan Khalaili in a major transfer to Palace: The new teammate who acted against Israel
The Israeli legionnaire hopes to make a significant leap in his career with his move to Crystal Palace of the Premier League, but in the locker room he will meet Morocco national team defender Chadi Riad, who campaigned for Israel's suspension from Europe.
A huge step for Israeli football: Anan Khalaili is receiving a particularly brilliant opportunity in his career and is expected to sign in the coming days with Crystal Palace of the English top flight. This transfer is considered one of the most intriguing and prestigious seen in local sports in recent years, as the young talent will integrate into one of the best leagues in the world and attempt to gain a foothold at the highest levels.
However, Khalaili's integration into the London club will bring him into a particularly complex situation in the locker room. One of the prominent squad players at Palace is Chadi Riad, the 23-year-old defender for the Morocco national team, who grew up at Barcelona and previously played for Real Betis. Riad made headlines in November 2025 when he was a signatory on an official letter sent to UEFA, in which he called for the suspension of the State of Israel from all activities in European competitions following the fighting in the Gaza Strip.
The Moroccan defender was not the only one to sign this sports-political initiative; alongside him appeared the names of about 70 other international footballers, including well-known stars such as Paul Pogba and Adama Traoré. Now, it will be interesting to follow how the daily meetings and professional interface between the Israeli Khalaili and the Moroccan defender will look on the pitch and in the locker room in England.
