Islam Slimani

Lore & Background

When Leicester City's extraordinary 2015–16 title run ended, the club entered a period of rebuilding and consolidation. The summer of 2016 saw a wave of new faces arrive, and among them was Islam Slimani, the Algerian international who had established himself as a prolific scorer in Ligue 1 with AS Monaco. His profile was distinctly different from the fleet, low-centre-of-gravity strikers who had defined the title-winning side. Slimani was tall, powerful, and unafraid of physical duels—a classic No. 9 who could hold up play, win headers, and drag defenders out of position to create space for wingers and midfield runners.

In the 2016–17 season, Slimani became a regular starter and a fan favourite for his directness and work rate. He was the kind of player who would chase a long ball down the line, shield it with his back to goal, and lay it off for a teammate arriving from behind. His presence in the box made Leicester's set-pieces a genuine threat, and his willingness to press high and win the ball back in the final third added a layer of intensity to the team's attacking transitions. Fans at the King Power would roar when he rose above the defence for a corner kick, that unmistakable silhouette of power against the floodlights.

His time at Leicester, while limited to a single full season, is remembered with affection. He was not a record-breaker or a Ballon d'Or contender, but he was a player who fit the culture: hard-working, committed, and unpretentious. When he departed for Besiktas in the summer of 2017, the club had already begun planning its next chapter, but Slimani's name remains in the mouths of supporters who remember the thud of his headers and the roar of the stand when he struck the ball home.

In Their Own Story

The King Power was shaking. Ninety-third minute. The ball swung in from the left—a long, looping cross that hung in the cold February air for what felt like an eternity. Slimani timed his run, shouldered past a centre-back who was a full head shorter, and met the ball with the side of his head. The net rippled. The away end went quiet. The home end erupted into that particular Leicester roar—the one that starts as a rumble in the lower tier and builds until the roof feels like it's lifting off the stadium. He spun, arms wide, and pointed at the corner flag where the away manager was already walking back to the bench. The physio was jogging toward the touchline. The season was still long, but in that moment, the King Power belonged to the Algerian giant and the faithful who had carried him there.

Reader's Guide

Islam Slimani (born 1988, Algiers) is an Algerian professional striker who played for Leicester City during the 2016–17 Premier League season. He joined the club from AS Monaco in the summer of 2016, arriving with a reputation for physical dominance and goal-scoring in Ligue 1.

At Leicester, Slimani operated as a classic target man. His game was built on aerial strength, hold-up play, and an ability to win second balls in the opposition box. He complemented the pace of the wide players and the movement of the midfield runners, providing a focal point for long balls and set-pieces. Under manager Craig Shakespeare, he featured prominently in the starting eleven and became a regular scorer in league fixtures.

His most memorable contributions came in high-stakes matches where his physicality proved decisive. He was a player who could change a game in a single header, a single well-timed run, or a single act of stubbornness in the box. Fans remember him for his intensity and his willingness to engage in every challenge.

Slimani departed Leicester in the summer of 2017 to join Beşiktaş in the Turkish Süper Lig. His single season at the King Power is remembered as a period of direct, energetic football, and he remains a fondly recalled figure in the club's recent history.

Did You Know?

• Slimani is Algerian by nationality but was born and raised in France, representing the Algerian national team at senior level.
• He joined Leicester City from AS Monaco, where he had been a regular scorer in Ligue 1 before his move to the Premier League.
• His playing profile—tall, powerful, and strong in the air—offered a different attacking dimension to Leicester's squad, contrasting with the pace-based style of the 2015–16 title-winning side.
• After his time at Leicester, Slimani moved to Beşiktaş in Turkey, where he continued his career as a leading striker in the Süper Lig.