{{Short description|French footballer (born 2005)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Islam Halifa | full_name = Islamdine Halifa<ref name="fff">{{cite web|url=https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/10921-halifa-islamdine/fiche.html|title=Islamdine HALIFA|website=fff.fr|access-date=29 May 2025}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|12|20|df=y}} | birth_place = Nîmes, France<ref name="fff"/> | height = | position = Defensive midfielder | currentclub = Red Star | clubnumber = 19 | youthyears1 = 2010–2012 | youthclubs1 = LSM Nîmois | youthyears2 = 2012–2021 | youthclubs2 = Nîmes | youthyears3 = 2021–2024 | youthclubs3 = Lyon | years1 = 2022–2024 | clubs1 = Lyon B | caps1 = 47 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = 2024–2025 | clubs2 = Lyon | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2024–2025 | clubs3 = → RWD Molenbeek (loan) | caps3 = 28 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2025– | clubs4 = Red Star | caps4 = 0 | goals4 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2023 | nationalteam1 = France U20 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | club-update = 25 May 2025 | nationalteam-update = 21 November 2023 }} '''Islamdine Halifa''' (born 20 December 2004), commonly known as '''Islam Halifa''', is a French professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for {{French football updater|Red Star}} club Red Star.
==Club career== Born in Nîmes, Halifa began his career at LSM Nîmois, before being recruited by Nîmes Olympique in 2012. He remained there for nine years before joining Lyon youth academy. There, he was part of Lyon U18's side that won the 2022 Coupe Gambardella.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://commerce.cafe/posts/les-gones-du-mois-novembre|title=Islamdine Halifa: Les Gones du mois (novembre)|date=6 December 2023|website=Café du Commerce|language=fr}}</ref> On 28 August 2023, Halifa signed his first professional contract with Lyon for a duration of four years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ol.fr/fr/actualites/islamdine-halifa-signe-son-premier-contrat-professionnel-a-l-olympique-lyonnais|title=Islamdine Halifa signe son premier contrat professionnel|date=28 August 2023|website=ol.fr|language=fr}}</ref>
In June 2024, Halifa joined Belgian side RWD Molenbeek on a one-season loan deal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Islam-halifa-ol-en-pret-a-molenbeek/1475859|title=Islam Halifa (OL) en prêt à Molenbeek|date=19 June 2024|website=L'Équipe|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lyonfoot.com/article/6373/islam-halifa-de-la-reserve-de-l-ol-a-molenbeek|title=Islam Halifa, de la réserve de l’OL à Molenbeek|date=19 June 2024|website=Lyon Foot|language=fr}}</ref> There, he quickly became an important starter of the team in the Challenger Pro League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/division-1b/rwdm/2024/09/20/a-19-ans-le-lyonnais-halifa-sest-deja-impose-au-rwdm-malgre-mon-age-jessaie-de-faire-partie-des-leaders-sur-un-terrain-FUSXV6OGKNFDBKOBAEAZUNGXD4/|title=À 19 ans, le Lyonnais Halifa s'est déjà imposé au RWDM : "Malgré mon âge, j'essaie de faire partie des leaders sur un terrain"|date=20 September 2024|website=DH|language=fr}}</ref> He was named as the best player of the team in October 2024 by RWD Molenbeek supporters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lyonfoot.com/article/6373/islam-halifa-de-la-reserve-de-l-ol-a-molenbeek|title=Prêté par l’OL à Molenbeek, Halifa s’éclate en Belgique|date=3 November 2024|website=olympique-et-lyonnais.com|language=fr}}</ref>
On 24 August 2025, Halifa was transferred to Ligue 2 side Red Star.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.leprogres.fr/sport/2025/08/24/islam-halifa-quitte-l-ol-pour-la-ligue-2|title=Football. Islam Halifa quitte l'OL pour la Ligue 2|publisher=Le Progrès|date=24 August 2025|lang=fr}}</ref>
==Personal life== Born in France, Halifa is of Comorian descent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comorosfootball.com/islamdine-halifa-contrat-pro-lyon/|title=Islamdine Halifa signe son premier contrat professionnel avec l’OL|date=30 August 2023|website=Comores Football|language=fr}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 10 May 2025}}
{| class="wikitable" Style="text-align: center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|Lyon B |2021–22 |Championnat National 2 |3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3||0 |- |2022–23 |Championnat National 2 |21||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||21||1 |- |2023–24 |Championnat National 3 |23||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||23||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !47!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!47!!1 |- |RWD Molenbeek (loan) |2024–25 |Challenger Pro League |28||1||2||1||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|Appearances in the Belgian Pro League promotion play-offs}}||0||32||2 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !76!!2!!2!!1!!0!!0!!2!!0!!80!!3 |} {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Soccerway|islamdine-halifa/816033}}
{{Red Star FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Halifa, Islam}} Category:2004 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century French sportsmen Category:French sportspeople of Comorian descent Category:French men's footballers Category:Footballers from Nîmes Category:France men's youth international footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Championnat National 2 players Category:Championnat National 3 players Category:Challenger Pro League players Category:Ligue 2 players Category:Olympique Lyonnais players Category:RWDM Brussels players Category:Red Star FC players Category:French expatriate men's footballers Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Belgium Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium