Islam Chesnokov
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Islam Khusiyevich Chesnokov | ||
| Date of birth | 21 November 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Oskemen, Kazakhstan | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Right winger[2] | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Heart of Midlothian | ||
| Number | 99 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2015–2019 | Altai Semey | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2021 | Altai Semey | 15 | (1) |
| 2021–2022 | Belshina Bobruisk | 55 | (10) |
| 2023–2025 | Tobol Kostanay | 68 | (24) |
| 2025– | Heart of Midlothian | 5 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023– | Kazakhstan | 22 | (3) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 March 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 15:40, 15 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Islam Khusiyevich Chesnokov (Russian: Ислам Хусиевич Чесноков; born 21 November 1999) is a Kazakhstani professional footballer who plays for Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian, as a right sided winger.
He previously played for Tobol, Belshina Bobruisk, and as a youth player for Altai-M Semey. Chesnokov has also represented Kazakhstan at full international level.
Club career
On 4 February 2023, Chesnokov joined Tobol[3] in his home country on a permanent transfer from Belshina Bobruisk.[4] On November 2023, Chesnokov scored the only goal in the Kazakhstan Cup final for Tobol against Ordabasy.[5]
In June 2025, he signed a pre contract agreement to join Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian (Hearts)[6] on expiration of his contract with Tobol on 31 December 2025.[7] Hearts had previously tried to sign the winger in January 2025, but could not agree a fee.[8] On 6 January 2026, Hearts confirmed his arrival on a deal until the summer of 2028.[9]
International career
Chesnokov scored his first and second international goals for Kazakhstan during a 3-1 win against San Marino on 17 November 2023 during UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying.
Career statistics
Club
- As of 20 March 2026[10]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Altai | 2020 | Kazakhstan Premier League | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 11 | 1 | ||
| Belshina Bobruisk | 2021 | Belarusian First League | 28 | 7 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 30 | 7 | ||
| 2022 | Belarusian Premier League | 27 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 29 | 3 | |||
| Total | 55 | 10 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 59 | 10 | ||||
| FC Tobol | 2023 | Kazakhstan Premier League | 22 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 6[b] | 1 | – | 34 | 8 | |
| 2024 | Kazakhstan Premier League | 21 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 4[c] | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 29 | 11 | |
| 2025 | Kazakhstan Premier League | 25 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 10 | |
| Total | 68 | 24 | 13 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 96 | 29 | ||
| Heart of Midlothian | 2025–26 | Scottish Premiership | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 | 1 | |
| Total | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 139 | 36 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 172 | 41 | ||
- ^ Includes Belarusian Cup, Kazakhstan Cup
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Conference League
- ^ Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Conference League
- ^ Appearance in Kazakhstan Super Cup
International
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 17 November 2023 | Astana Arena, Astana, Kazakhstan | San Marino | 1–0 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 2. | 2–0 |
Honours
FC Tobol
Individual
- Kazakhstan Premier League Top Scorer: 2024
References
- ^ https://fctobol.kz/players/%d1%82%d0%be%d1%88%d0%b8%d1%87-%d0%b7%d0%be%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%bd/
- ^ "Hearts confident of Chesnokov's imminent arrival". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ "«Тобол» официально объявил о подписании футболиста с опытом игры в Европе" (in Russian). 4 February 2023.
- ^ "Ислам Чесноков – новичок Тобола". fctobol.kz (in Russian). FC Tobol. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ a b ""Тобол" выиграл Кубок Казахстана". Zakon (in Russian). 4 November 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ "Islam Chesnokov signs Hearts deal as transfer talks continue". .edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Edinburgh Evening News. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ "Islam Chesnokov's UK visa granted as Hearts transfer nears completion". .edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Edinburgh Evening News. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ "Kazakhstan club criticises Hearts after 'cheap' bid for star winger". heraldscotland.com. The Herald. 17 January 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ "Chesnokov Joins Hearts". heartsfc.co.uk. Heart of Midlothian F.C. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ Islam Chesnokov at Soccerway
External links
- Islam Chesnokov at FootballFacts.ru (in Russian)