Iwobi Open on how his Hairstyle, Fashion and Music have Helped Him

Alex Iwobi is speaking about the multi-coloured braids in his hair and how even his hairstyle has actually helped his football in what he sees as his best start to a Premier League season so far.

‘Yeah, that really plays a part (in expressing myself),’ the Fulham midfielder says.

‘My dad’s in your home and he’s probably heard me. He didn’t like that I coloured my hair. I got bored and didn’t wish to cut it off so I believed let’s do something different that no one else has. I actually told the hair stylist to ‘express yourself’ but not too wild. It’s wild since it’s red and purple at the moment but I like it. My daddy’s accepted it now so I’m easy.’

It’s a plain contrast from the short-haired 19-year-old who made his Arsenal debut under Arsene Wenger in 2015.

Iwobi insists that he’s always had the frame of mind of sensation like there’s more to life than football but has only expressed himself more in the last few years, going to Paris Fashion Week, launching singles and launching his charitable structure, Project 17.

‘It’s always been my pastime to do music, charity work and things in style. But it’s only recently that I’ve been expressing myself a lot more, to show people that I am not just a footballer. There is more to life, he says.

Alexi Iwobi has actually made his best start to a Premier League season with 5 objectives in 15 matches

The 28-year-old states his multi-coloured braids have contributed to his on-pitch improvement

It’s a plain contrast from the short-haired teenager who made his launching under Arsene Wenger

This weekend, the 28-year-old will have his work cut out as Fulham take on league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday and on Sunday, he will be back in London feeding 100 households for Christmas as part of Project 17.

For one day, there will be an AleXpress in Canning Town, his hometown, where everything will be free in a regional supermarket.

‘You know what Liverpool are like – it’s going to be an extreme game but whether I get constrain or have no hamstrings, I will exist on Sunday,’ Iwobi stresses.

‘In the home I was raised in, my dad naturally just returned. To people in Nigeria, to his household and even people in the street – he would simply purchase bottles of water and give them to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and dad are has inspired me to give to others, whether they are lucky or less lucky. With the position I am in, I seem like it’s just ideal with the impact I have that I offer back also.’

Through these initiatives off the pitch, Iwobi thinks is the secret to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has actually currently scored more than in any other season, with five in the league for a Fulham side that is just 2 points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.

‘As a youngster you desire to do your best to impress the manager and desire everyone to know you are fully focused on football. But it (flexibility) includes age, being free and not being pressed about unfavorable comments. If it’s useful, you do not mind the criticism,’ he says.

‘You have to be strong mentally. Players do well when they’re confident and with me, feeling great to reveal myself on and off the pitch, I practically feel unstoppable. And when you have people that back you, it actually plays a part.’

One of those people that backs him is Marco Silva, who signed Iwobi for ₤ 35M at Everton from Arsenal in 2019, and didn’t think twice when he had the opportunity to bring him back to London on Deadline Day in 2015. After his brace versus Brighton recently, Silva stated it was Iwobi’s ‘finest season in the Premier League so far’ and he concurs.

The 28-year-old will feed 100 households on Sunday for Christmas as part of Project 17

Iwobi firmly insists that he’s constantly had the mindset of sensation like there’s more to life than football

Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his launching song ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November released a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’

‘I have been associated with a lot of goals, contributing a lot, and defensively I have been working well. You might state it’s my best start to the season – I just have to keep it going and make certain it’s my finest season. That’s the objective’ says Iwobi, who credits Silva for offering him ‘the license to express’ himself. ‘It’s good to have a manager who offers you the self-confidence to do that,’ he states.

Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the first Premier League footballer to release a single with his debut song ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November released a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ which is referred to as a celebration of his African roots with a mix of Afro-Swing blended with Rap”.

It’s also a tune that Silva’s enjoying in the dressing space, with Fulham making their best start to a top-flight season because 2003-04.

‘I don’t get it on in the dressing space however when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he simply can’t help himself, Iwobi exposes.

‘He is tapping the manager to listen to the tune. The very first time he (Silva) heard ‘What’s Luv?’ he was simply vibing like, ‘is this Alex?’ and Calvin resembled ‘yes it’s Alex!’ He stated it wasn’t bad. I know the very first time he didn’t comprehend what was said but he enjoyed the beat. So it’s a win-win.

‘Everyone vibes with it and I’m having excellent feedback from the group – even individuals who don’t speak English as their mother tongue like the Brazilians, they’re vibing as well,’ adds Iwobi.

Silva’s strategy at Everton was to develop around the midfielder however he was sacked four months after signing Iwobi. Then Carlo Ancelotti played him out of position while Rafa Benitez hardly played him at all.

Iwobi would travel across the M62 to Manchester and play seven-a-side with his mates in camouflage to enjoy his football again. Now that joy has been discovered after his ₤ 22M move last year.

‘Everyone’s mindset is one for all and all for one so that’s certainly assisting us this season. We have actually been having group meals and bonding and that’s brought a great deal of togetherness, says Iwobi.

Marco Silva initially signed the Nigerian at Everton then brought him to Fulham later in 2023

Iwobi will have his work cut out as Fulham take on league leaders Liverpool at Anfield

‘Even when Sander (Berge) and Joa (Andersen) signed, they took us out to consume. We arranged a journey to Paris to clear our heads (after the Wolves loss), returned then went again with the Tottenham and Brighton results. We feel like we’re prepared to fly and we can do anything together.’

Another group meal is organised for midweek ahead of a run of 3 video games in seven days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer wishes to take us out. That’s another bit of free food so I’m not complaining,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s truly good. It resembles one big family.’

But initially, Fulham will head to Anfield with belief, having taken points from Arsenal last week and narrowly losing at Man City in October in a video game where Pep Guardiola had plenty of credit for Fulham.

‘It shows we have the capability to take on anyone. We are not scared. Hopefully it will be the exact same versus Liverpool. We are going there to get an outcome,’ Iwobi firmly insists.

Get something at Anfield and Arne Slot’s league-leaders may well be hearing ‘What’s Luv’ blasting out from the away dressing room.

FulhamAlex Iwobi