Leicester City complete deal for Sporting striker Islam Slimani

Posted Thursday, September 01, 2016 by ESPN

Islam Slimani has joined the Premier League champions

Premier League champions Leicester City have signed Algeria striker Islam Slimani from Sporting Lisbon.

Sources close to the club have told ESPN FC that the fee for the 28-year-old is €35 million, which would be a club record for the Foxes.

Slimani scored 48 goals in 82 league appearances for the Portuguese club in his two seasons at the Estadio Jose Alvalade and has been linked with a move to England for the past few years.

"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.

A bid of €30m has also been tabled by the Premier League champions for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Adrien Silva, but no deal has yet been completed.