Islam Chesnokov, born in Kazakhstan on 21 November 1999, reigns as a forward, primarily functioning as a right winger for Hearts Football Club. With a commanding presence on the field, the 26-year-old stands notably tall at six feet (1.85m) and carries a robust weight of 11st and 13lb (76kg). Number 99 on the back of his jersey symbolises his significant contributions to the game and marks the years he represents both club and nation, having had the honour of playing for the Kazakhstan national team.
Set in the world of football as a valuable asset, Chesnokov’s current market value circles around £1m, as asserted by Transfermarkt. From his inception into the professional sphere, his career has followed an impressive trajectory. His debut in 2022 with Belshina Bobruysk in Belarus saw him play 27 first team games, managing to secure four goals for his team. In the subsequent season of 2023, he shifted to Tobol in his homeland, Kazakhstan, making a solid impression in 22 first team appearances and finding the net five times.
Moving forward, Chesnokov’s prolific 2024 and 2025 seasons at Tobol proved a breakthrough. With 21 and 25 first team appearances respectively, he demonstrated his proficiency on the field with a total of nineteen goals. However, the 2025 - 2026 season at Hearts in Scotland has yet to see the skilled forward in action.
Chesnokov has also made his mark in the Scottish Cup 2025 - 2026 for Hearts with a single guest appearance. Impressively, his contribution to World Cup Qualifiers Europe 2024 - 2026 manifested with six starts for Kazakhstan and two appearances as a substitute. Moreover, he made a distinct impression in the Nations League 2024 - 2025 again for Kazakhstan, with four initiations and a single performance as a substitute.
