His father, Majdi, a former goalkeeper and youth coach, played a central role in his development.
At the Neve Yosef Academy, under his father’s guidance, Khalaily burst onto the scene with 25 goals in 24 matches during the 2019/2020 season for Maccabi Haifa U19.
He eventually scored 11 league goals in the 2022/2023 season and helped the club win the Israeli U19 championship.
In June 2024, Khalaily made a high-profile move to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium for a reported €6.5m, a record fee for Maccabi Haifa.
He made his debut in the Belgian Super Cup, winning over Club Brugge, and scored his first league goal in February 2025 against Anderlecht.
By season’s end, he had helped Les Unionistes win their first league title in 90 years.
This player analysis and scout report outline why Khalaily’s blend of creativity, composure, and goalscoring instinct suggests he’s just getting started.
If he continues to make the right moves, he will reap plenty of success in the future.
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Who Is Anan Khalaily?
Anan Khalaily (183 cm, 6’0″) is a right-footed winger who was born in 2004.
He is known for his technical sharpness, intelligent movement, and ability to score in high-pressure moments.
Anan Khalaili enjoyed a productive campaign in 2024/2025, featuring in 47 matches across all competitions and accumulating 3205 minutes, a notable workload for a player of his age.
Over 34 appearances in league play, including the playoffs, he contributed directly to nine goals, scoring four and assisting five.
He also gained valuable European experience, making nine appearances in the UEFA Europa League, an impressive milestone for the 20-year-old.
His involvement at both domestic and continental levels highlights his growing maturity, versatility, and readiness for top-level competition.
Anan Khalaily Stats
Anan Khalaily has demonstrated a consistently strong season characterised by outstanding defensive intensity.
His positional versatility stands out.
He confidently operates mainly as a right wing-back while also effectively covering right wing-back, left wing-back, central midfield, and occasionally centre-forward roles.
His ability to progress the ball securely under pressure further highlights his advanced adaptability and tactical awareness.
Defensively, Khalaily performs well in ground duels, registering standout performances with 13 duels won against Genk (March), 12 against Anderlecht (February), and 12 against Toulouse (October), averaging around 6–9 duels won per game.
In the air, he’s equally dominant for a wing-back, winning seven duels vs Antwerp (May), six vs Genk (Apr), and five vs Standard Liège (Mar).
His defensive instincts are further evidenced by up to five interceptions in multiple games and frequent recoveries in his own half, often reaching nine or more, as seen in the 11 he made against Genk.
Technically, Khalaily boasts excellent ball retention with passing accuracy often in the high 70s to mid-80s, peaking at 89% vs Anderlecht (Apr) and 88% vs St-Truiden (Nov), along with frequent progressive distribution, completing over 30 passes in many games, sometimes exceeding 40.
He is secure and confident in 1v1 situations, with perfect dribbling performances, such as 6/6 (Apr), 5/5 (Oct and Mar), and 4/4 (Feb).
While not heavily involved in direct goalscoring, he contributed creatively with up to 0.37 xA (Feb vs OH Leuven) and regularly created several chances per match.
These metrics, combined with his stamina, tactical IQ, and clean on-ball profile, highlight Khalaily as a dynamic two-way presence who thrives under pressure and adapts to complex tactical systems with maturity beyond his years.
Anan Khalaily Style Of Play
Anan Khalaili has been a dynamic and versatile presence this season at USG, notable for his work rate, impactful defensive contributions, and creativity.
Mainly deployed as a right wing-back, he shows defensive reliability with effective support in attack.
He thrives in tactical setups that frequently switch between a 3-5-2, 3-4-1-2, and occasionally a 3-4-2-1 formation under Sebastien Pocognoli’s system.
During his time at Maccabi Haifa, Khalaily was known as one of the most exciting and direct wingers, scoring 14 goals in all competitions.
He relied heavily on his pace, dribbling skills, and willingness to take on defenders one-on-one, focusing predominantly on offensive creativity and chance creation from wide areas.
However, his defensive output and positional discipline still required development.
Since then, Khalaily has undergone a notable transformation.
He has progressed from a predominantly attacking winger into a well-rounded, tactically intelligent player.
Now primarily operating as a wing-back or in deeper roles, he has significantly improved his defensive resilience and game understanding, becoming more disciplined without the ball.
His development also includes effective ball progression under pressure and the capacity to adapt across multiple positions on the pitch, demonstrating increased maturity and responsibility.
This evolution marks a shift from an attacking specialist to a well-rounded player who influences all phases of the game, striking a balance between offensive creativity and defensive stability.
Anan’s growth has enhanced his value as a versatile asset capable of meeting a variety of tactical requirements beyond the role he fulfilled at Maccabi Haifa.
Anan Khalaily Dribbling Ability
Anan Khalaily’s dribbling is smart and controlled.
He doesn’t rely on flashy tricks but focuses on keeping close control of the ball, especially when moving forward from deeper positions.
He uses quick changes of direction and subtle feints to get past opponents, choosing his moments carefully rather than forcing things.
Anan Khalaily Creativity
Anan Khalaily shows strong creativity from his wide defensive and wing-back positions.
He often provides key passes and assists.
His passing accuracy is good, usually over 70%, and he includes long balls that help switch play and open up defences.
He sends in many crosses each game with a solid success rate, creating chances from wide areas.
He also carries the ball forward well and completes successful dribbles, adding to his attacking threat.
Anan Khalaily Versatility
Anan Khalaily’s positional versatility is one of his standout traits this season.
Throughout his young career, he has featured as a right-back, left-back, wing-back on both flanks, and even occasionally as a centre-forward.
His adaptability allows him to operate effectively in both back-four and back-five systems, providing tactical flexibility for his coaches.
Defensively, Khalaily has progressed well in one-on-one duels and consistently records strong numbers in interceptions, recoveries, and aerial battles, reflecting his ability to read the game and cover ground intelligently.
Offensively, his comfort in advancing into higher zones from wide areas adds width and unpredictability to attacking phases.
This rare blend of defensive reliability and forward thrust makes him a dynamic and multifaceted option across the pitch.
Anan Khalaily Defensive Contributions
Khalaily is solid and dependable, showing good positioning and awareness.
Defensively, he stands out for his anticipation and positional awareness, consistently recording high numbers in interceptions and recoveries across both domestic and European competitions.
His ability to win ground and aerial duels shows a strong physical presence, while his versatility demonstrates tactical intelligence.
Anan Khalaily Career Progression
Anan Khalaily’s journey has been built on steady progress, quiet determination, and the kind of versatility that gives him a real chance of making it at a higher level.
He’s shown composure beyond his years, with strong one-on-one defending and the confidence to carry the ball forward.
These are all signs of a player growing in maturity and physical presence.
However, his first touch and decision-making under pressure still need refinement to match the demands of top-level football.
Now at 20, he looks ready for the challenge of regular first-team football.
With European clubs increasingly scouting the Israeli league for emerging talent, Khalaily could soon follow in the footsteps of Oscar Gloukh.
While he may not have quite the same ceiling, his potential to play in a bigger league is clear.
Moving to a development-minded club in France or Germany could be the next step, providing him with the time and environment to refine his game and continue moving forward.
Conclusion
Anan Khalaily’s profile could make him a natural fit for a club like VfL Wolfsburg, where tactical flexibility and defensive solidity are key.
Wolfsburg’s use of a three-at-the-back system would suit Khalaily’s ability to cover wide areas and step into midfield when needed.
At 20, a move to a team like Wolfsburg would offer him the opportunity to gain valuable first-team experience in a competitive league while developing within a structure that highlights his strengths.
This environment could help him enhance his defensive awareness and build on his attacking contributions, positioning him to compete at higher levels and become a key player for both club and country in the near future.
Alternatively, a move to OGC Nice in Ligue 1, where they have also experimented with similar tactics, could offer him a great platform to continue his development and position him well for a future step up to a bigger club.
