Leicester City sign Islam Slimani from Sporting Lisbon on five-year deal
Leicester City have signed Algeria striker Islam Slimani from Sporting Lisbon for an undisclosed fee.
The 28-year-old forward, who has signed a five-year deal, left Algeria’s training camp to have a medical with the Premier League champions.
He has been with Sporting since 2013 and scored 27 goals for the Portuguese side last season.
He also scored twice at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as Algeria reached the knockout stages for the first time.
✅ DONE DEAL! Algeria striker @slimaniislam completes a #DeadlineDay move to Leicester City. #WelcomeSlimani pic.twitter.com/uA9reEVsjd
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 31, 2016
“To join a team like Leicester City is a huge honour and I can’t wait to get started,” he told the club’s official website.
“I’ve always wanted to play my football in the Premier League and to get the opportunity to do that with the reigning champions was something I simply could not turn down.
“I saw the amazing success of last season and the passion of the club’s supporters. That’s something that I’m so excited to be a part of.”
The move looked in doubt after Sporting rejected Leicester’s opening offer, but the Foxes came back with an improved bid to land the striker on Tuesday night.
The Algeria international will link up with his international teammate Riyad Mahrez, who signed a new contract at the club earlier this month.
He added: “My friend Riyad Mahrez spoke to me about the club and about the atmosphere the Leicester fans create at King Power Stadium. I will give absolutely everything I have on the pitch for them and for my teammates and I hope that together we can achieve something special.”
Leicester have already persuaded Jamie Vardy to commit his future and spent a then-club record £16.6m on Nigeria forward Ahmed Musa.
Meanwhile, Foxes midfielder Gokhan Inler, 32, has joined Besiktas.
