Islam Slimani

Islam Slimani ( ar, إسلام سليماني; born 18 June 1988) is an Algerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Brest and the Algeria national team.

Slimani began his career in his homeland with JSM Chéraga and CR Belouizdad. In 2013, he moved to Europe, signing for Sporting CP. He played and scored regularly during his three seasons in Portugal, helping his team win the Taça de Portugal in 2015. In 2016, Slimani was transferred to Leicester for a club record £28 million fee.

An Algerian international, Slimani made his international debut in 2012 and played at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2021, and was also a part of the Algeria side that won the 2019 tournament. He was also part of Algeria's squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he finished as the team's joint top scorer with two goals. As of November 2022, he has won 91 international caps and scored 41 goals, making him Algeria's highest all-time goalscorer.

Early life

Slimani was born in Algiers, Algeria.

Club career

Early career

In May 2009, Slimani joined CR Belouizdad from JSM Chéraga for a transfer fee of 800,000 Algerian dinars, signing a two-year contract. In August, he made his official debut for the club as a starter against MC Oran in the first week of the 2009–10 Algerian Championnat National. He finished his first season with Belouizdad with 8 goals in 30 games.

On 17 May 2011, Slimani scored four goals in a league game against JS Kabylie, leading CR Belouizdad to an impressive 7–1 win. In July 2011, with his contract expired and several French clubs such as Nice and Le Havre showing interest in signing him, Slimani decided to sign a two-year extension with CR Belouizdad.

Sporting CP

2013–14 season

On 6 August 2013, Slimani joined Sporting CP for an undisclosed fee. He started the 2013–14 season as a substitute, gaining a reputation as an impact player due to him scoring vital goals when coming off the bench. Due to the lack of form of Fredy Montero, however, Slimani became a starter and scored four goals in four matches in early March 2014 against Rio Ave, Braga, Vitória de Setúbal and in 1–0 over rivals Porto. In December 2013 he was considered the best Algerian footballer of the year as he won the Algerian Golden Ball.

2014–15 season

In his second season Slimani was successful as he became a key player. His first goal of the season was in the Derby de Lisboa 1–1 away draw to Benfica. At European level Slimani scored his first goal against Schalke 04 at Estádio José Alvalade in the last minute to finish 4–2 for Sporting. At the end of the season he finished third in the league, but in the Taça de Portugal he reached the final against Braga on 31 May 2015, slimani scored a goal helping Sporting turn around a two-goal deficit to eventually secure the cup following a penalty shootout 3–1. where he achieved his first title in his history at the end of the season Slimani played 33 games and scored 15 goals, including 12 in the league.

2015–16 season

In the 2015–16 season, Slimani said he would be his last season and aspires to achieve the title of the Primeira Liga absent for 14 years the new and former Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who said he would rely heavily on Slimani to win the titles and the start was in the Supertaça against Benfica and ended for Sporting with a single goal, achieving his second title. At the start of the tournament, Slimani scored his first goal against Académica in an away match on 4 October 2015, and in the seventh round against Vitória de Guimarães, he scored his first hat-trick in the Portuguese league. At the top of the 15th round, Slimani managed to score two goals against Porto's goalkeeper Iker Casillas to lead the team back to the top of the league. After this game, Slimani scored in four consecutive games 6 goals against Vitória de Setúbal, Braga, Tondela and Paços de Ferreira. After two matches, he returned to score twice at Nacional.

Before Sporting's league derby match at home, Benfica lodged a complaint against Slimani for assaulting Andreas Samaris with his elbow in a Portuguese Cup match on 21 November 2015. After a long wait and one day before the match, the Portuguese League announced that Slimani could participate in the decisive match for the title. However, the team lost 1–0 and dropped to second place, behind Benfica. One week later, he scored his 20th goal this season in the match against Estoril. After this meeting, he scored four goals against Belenenses, Marítimo and Moreirense, and Porto. Slimani contributed to the victory at Estádio do Dragão after scoring two goals. In the final round, he scored his 27th goal of the season against Braga. The match ended 4–0 but was not enough for Sporting to win the league title, as Benfica ended with more two points. That season, Slimani scored 27 goals in the league but finished behind top scorer Jonas, with 32 goals.

For the following season, Sporting wanted to retain Slimani but he insisted on leaving the club, and that was finally accepted by the administration. On 28 August 2016, he played his last match against Porto at Estádio José Alvalade and scored his last goal to finish 2–1 for Sporting.

Leicester City

2016–17 season

On 31 August 2016, the last day of the 2016–17 summer transfer window in England, Slimani joined Premier League champions Leicester City on a five-year contract. The transfer fee paid to Sporting was reported as £28 million, a club record for Leicester. Leicester had beaten West Bromwich Albion to sign Slimani.

On 14 September, he made his debut for Leicester in the UEFA Champions League playing 62 minutes in a 3–0 victory over Club Brugge. Three days later, he made his Premier League debut in a 3–0 victory over Burnley, scoring his side's first two goals. On 27 September, Slimani scored the only goal in Leicester's 1–0 win against Porto in the Champions League group stage after a pass from Algerian national teammate Riyad Mahrez. It was his sixth goal with Iker Casillas in goal in 2016, five of which he netted while with his former club Sporting.

After this goal, Slimani failed to score until matchday 11 of the Premier League against West Bromwich Albion from a pass from Mahrez, although Leicester lost 2–1. Later, on matchday 13, after entering as a substitute, Slimani scored the equalizer for his team from the penalty spot in the last minute against Middlesbrough. On matchday 15, Slimani helped the Foxes to win against Manchester City 4–2 after he presented two assists for goalscorers Jamie Vardy and Andy King. On 31 December, after five games without a goal, Slimani scored the winning goal against West Ham United at the King Power Stadium to lead his team to their fifth win in the Premier League that season, on the last day of 2016.

Slimani scored four of his five league goals from headers, but had only managed a 38% shot accuracy by January 2017. After his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, Slimani returned to the club injured, which affected the rest of his season where he did not participate very much and scored only two goals, against Sunderland and against Everton. In the League Cup match against Sheffield United, he scored two goals.

2017–18 season: Newcastle United (loan)

On 31 January 2018, Slimani signed for Newcastle United on loan until the end of the season. A thigh injury prevented him from making his debut for the club, which eventually happened exactly two months after signing, in a 1–0 win over Huddersfield Town, and he was involved in the build-up for the only goal of the game, scored by Ayoze Pérez. On 15 April, Slimani was again involved in the build-up for the match winning goal in a 2–1 win over Arsenal, after his header was flicked on by Pérez, and into the path of Matt Ritchie.

On 3 May, Slimani was given a three match ban for violent conduct after an off-the-ball incident with West Bromwich Albion's Craig Dawson, effectively ending his season with Newcastle.

Fenerbahçe (loan)

On 11 August 2018, Slimani joined Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe on a season-long loan. He made his debut on 18 August 2018, playing the full 90 minutes in 1–0 loss to Yeni Malatyaspor. His first goal for the club came on 1 September 2018 when he scored Fenerbahçe's second goal of their 3–2 loss to Kayserispor.

Monaco (loan)

On 21 August 2019, Slimani joined Ligue 1 club Monaco on a season-long loan. Despite scoring nine goals and seven assists in 18 league games before the Ligue 1 season was abruptly concluded due to the COVID-19 pandemic in May, Monaco chose not to give Slimani a permanent contract.

Lyon

On 13 January 2021, Slimani signed with Ligue 1 club Lyon. On 18 January 2021, he made his league debut, coming on as a substitute for Tino Kadewere in the 76th minute, in a 0–1 loss to Metz. He scored his first goal for the club on 9 February in a 5–1 Coupe de France victory against Ajaccio. He scored his first league goal for the club on 21 March, after coming on as a substitute, in a 4–2 loss to Paris Saint Germain.

On 1 February 2022, Slimani's contract with Lyon was terminated by mutual consent, effectively making him a free agent.

Return to Sporting CP

Slimani returned to Sporting CP immediately after his contract with Lyon was rescinded, signing a one-and-a-half-year contract. He made his comeback on the pitch for ''Leões'' on 6 February 2022, coming off the bench in the 74th minute for Pedro Porro in a 2–0 league victory against Famalicão. His first goal upon returning came on 26 February in a 1–1 away draw on Madeira against Marítimo, firing in a cross from Matheus Reis.

Brest

On 25 August 2022, Slimani signed with Ligue 1 side Brest.

International career

In October 2009, Slimani was called up by Abdelhak Benchikha for the first time to the Algeria A' National Team for a week-long training camp in Algiers. In March 2010, Slimani was called up again, this time for a 2011 African Nations Championship qualifier against Libya as a replacement for his injured CR Belouizdad teammate Youcef Saïbi. However, Slimani did not play in the game as Algeria won 1–0.

In May 2012, Slimani was called up for the first time to the Algeria national team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Mali and Rwanda, and the return leg of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Gambia. On 26 May, he made his debut, coming as a substitute at half-time in a friendly against Niger