Inter have completed the signing of Anan Khalaili from Maccabi Haifa, the club confirmed on Wednesday. The transfer brings the Israeli international to Serie A after a successful spell in Belgium with Union Saint-Gilloise. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but reports suggest a fee in the region of €6.5 million.
Khalaili, 22, has quickly risen through the ranks, demonstrating a blend of pace and technical skill that caught the attention of several European clubs. His development was notably influenced by his father, Majdi Khalaili, a former professional goalkeeper who implemented a rigorous training regime from a young age. This included daily 6 AM workouts focused on physical conditioning and technical refinement, amounting to approximately 10-11 training sessions per week. Majdi Khalaili later earned a master’s degree in Sports Science, further informing his son’s preparation.
Born in Haifa, Israel, Khalaili comes from an Arab-Muslim family with roots in the city of Sakhnin. He initially played in goal, following in his father’s footsteps, but was quickly moved into a more attacking position due to his evident talent. He excelled at youth level, scoring 25 goals in 24 appearances in 2020, and continued to impress for Israel’s youth national teams, notably scoring against Brazil in the 2023 Under-20 World Cup, helping Israel to a surprising third-place finish.
Khalaili’s versatility has seen him transition from an attacker to a right-sided wing-back, utilizing his impressive speed – exceeding 33 km/h – to great effect. He has already faced Serie A opposition, scoring against Fiorentina in the Conference League and against Atalanta in the Champions League, and even played against Inter and Italy’s national team, lining up against Federico Dimarco. The move reunites him with Dimarco as teammates. Khalaili’s arrival provides Inter with further options in the wide areas and adds depth to their squad as they prepare to defend their Serie A title.
