Leicester City have announced the signing of Algeria striker Islam Slimani from Sporting Lisbon, and in the process have smashed their transfer record again.
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Both parties have since agreed on a fee of around £30 million which will see Slimani move to Leicester City after his medical.
Sporting had been asking for 40million euros – around £34million – for Slimani but the latest reports suggest Leicester will pay around £28million to secure the swoop.
His 27 goals last season helped his club to finish as runners-up behind Lisbon rivals Benfica in the Portuguese top flight. “At 27 years old, and after so many years of loyalty, I think that no one will criticise me for wanting to embrace this challenge”.
Sporting confirmed the Slimani deal with a statement, saying: “Sporting SAD wishes Islam Slimani the highest personal and professional happiness”. Though there were conflicting situations between the player and the club management the player is finally on the move.
“This has been said and clearly expressed by the club’s president to the player, the father of the athlete and their representatives before consummating the renewal of the contract”.
Slimani’s arrival takes the number of signings City have made this summer to six and their total spending to almost £65m, or almost £70m if all the add-ons in Slimani’s contract are taken into account.
He becomes Leicester’s sixth signing of the transfer window, joining Luis Hernandez, Ron-Robert Zieler, Bartosz Kapustka, Nampalys Mendy and Ahmed Musa at the King Power Stadium.
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Meanwhile, Besiktas have signed Switzerland midfidler Gokhan Inler in a £3m three-year deal.
