Algerian · Algiers, Algeria · Born 18 June 1988Prolific Algerian striker whose goalscoring across the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A established him as one of Africa's finest forwards.
Islam Slimani was born on 18 June 1988 in Algiers, Algeria, and began his career with local clubs JSM Chéraga and CR Belouizdad before moving to Portugal's Sporting CP in 2013. Over three prolific seasons in Lisbon, his powerful, physical style and clinical finishing made him one of the most feared strikers in the Primeira Liga, helping Sporting win the 2015 Taça de Portugal. Leicester City signed Slimani in 2016 for a club-record £28 million fee, arriving the season after the club's astonishing Premier League title triumph. He struggled to fully establish himself as a first-choice starter, leading to a series of loan spells at Newcastle United, Fenerbahçe, and Monaco, before permanent moves to Lyon, back to Sporting, Brest, and several other European clubs in the later stages of his career. Despite his unsettled club career following his big move to England, Slimani built an outstanding international record, becoming Algeria's all-time leading goalscorer. He represented his country at the 2014 World Cup and multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, winning the trophy in 2019 as Algeria triumphed in Egypt. Slimani continued playing into his late thirties across clubs in Belgium, Brazil, and Romania, extending a well-travelled career built on a proven goal-scoring pedigree at international level that never quite translated into consistent success at any single major European club.
Algeria's all-time leading goalscorer
With 42 goals, he became Algeria's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Lakhdar Belloumi's long-standing record and cementing his status as the country's most prolific international striker.
Did You Know?How They Played
Physical target man with strong aerial ability and clinical finishing
Lasting Impact
Slimani's success in European leagues helped raise the profile of Algerian football and inspired a generation of North African players to pursue careers abroad.
Career Honours
- AFCON 2019
- Primeira Liga 2015 (Sporting CP)
- Primeira Liga 2015
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JSM Chéraga | 2007–2009 | — | 38 | 19 |
| CR Belouizdad | 2009–2013 | — | 98 | 32 |
| Sporting CP | 2013–2016 | — | 82 | 48 |
| Sporting CP B | 2013–2013 | — | 1 | 0 |
| Leicester City | 2016–2021 | £29.7m | 36 | 8 |
| Newcastle United | 2018–2018 | loan | 4 | 0 |
| Fenerbahçe | 2018–2019 | loan | 15 | 1 |
| Monaco | 2019–2020 | loan | 18 | 9 |
| Lyon | 2021–2022 | — | 30 | 4 |
| Sporting CP | 2022–2022 | — | 9 | 4 |
| Brest | 2022–2023 | — | 16 | 1 |
| Anderlecht | 2023–2023 | — | 10 | 8 |
| Coritiba | 2023–2024 | — | 11 | 3 |
| Mechelen | 2024–2024 | — | 13 | 3 |
| CR Belouizdad | 2024–2025 | — | 8 | 3 |
| Westerlo | 2025–2025 | loan | 18 | 2 |
| CFR Cluj | 2025–2026 | — | 14 | 1 |
 Algeria | — | — | 103 | 43 |
Algerian Athletes