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

Alex Iwobi is discussing the multi-coloured braids in his hair and how even his hairdo has assisted his football in what he views as his best start to a Premier League season up until now.

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

‘My daddy’s in your house and he’s probably heard me. He didn’t like that I coloured my hair. I got tired and didn’t wish to cut it off so I thought let’s do something different that nobody else has. I actually informed the hair stylist to ‘express yourself’ however not too wild. It’s wild because it’s red and purple at the moment however I like it. My dad’s accepted it now so I’m simple.’

It’s a stark 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 state of mind of feeling like there’s more to life than football however has actually only expressed himself more in the last few years, going to Paris Fashion Week, launching singles and introducing his charitable structure, Project 17.

‘It’s constantly been my hobby to do music, charity work and things in style. But it’s just just recently that I have actually been expressing myself a lot more, to reveal people that I am not simply a footballer. There is more to life, he says.

Alexi Iwobi has made his finest start to a Premier League season with five goals in 15 matches

The 28-year-old says his multi-coloured braids have actually added to his on-pitch improvement

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

This weekend, the 28-year-old will have his work eliminated 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 home town, where everything will be complimentary in a local grocery store.

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

‘In your house I was raised in, my papa naturally simply returned. To individuals in Nigeria, to his family and even people in the street – he would just purchase bottles of water and provide them to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and daddy are has actually me to offer to others, whether they are lucky or less fortunate. With the position I am in, I feel like it’s only ideal with the impact I have that I provide back as well.’

Through these efforts off the pitch, Iwobi believes is the trick to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has actually currently scored more objectives than in any other season, with 5 in the league for a Fulham side that is just two points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.

‘As a child you want to do your finest to impress the manager and desire everybody to understand you are completely focused on football. But it (flexibility) comes with age, being totally free and not being pushed about negative comments. If it’s constructive, you don’t mind the criticism,’ he says.

‘You need to be strong psychologically. Players do well when they’re positive and with me, feeling great to express myself on and off the pitch, I nearly feel unstoppable. And when you have people that back you, it truly plays a part.’

Among those individuals that backs him is Marco Silva, who signed Iwobi for ₤ 35M at Everton from Arsenal in 2019, and didn’t hesitate when he had the chance to bring him back to London on Deadline Day last year. After his brace against Brighton recently, Silva said it was Iwobi’s ‘best 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 frame of mind of feeling like there’s more to life than football

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

‘I have actually been associated with a lot of goals, contributing a lot, and defensively I have actually been working well. You might state it’s my finest start to the season – I simply have to keep it going and make sure it’s my finest season. That’s the aim’ says Iwobi, who credits Silva for providing him ‘the license to reveal’ himself. ‘It’s nice to have a supervisor who offers you the self-confidence to do that,’ he states.

Earlier this year, Iwobi became the first Premier League footballer to release a single with his launching tune ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November launched a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ which is described as an event of his African roots with a mix of Afro-Swing combined with Rap”.

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

‘I do not get it on in the dressing room however when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he simply can’t assist 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 was like ‘yes it’s Alex!’ He said it wasn’t bad. I understand the very first time he didn’t comprehend what was said however he delighted in the beat. So it’s a win-win.

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

Silva’s strategy at Everton was to build around the midfielder however he was sacked 4 months after signing Iwobi. Then Carlo Ancelotti played him out of position while Rafa Benitez barely played him at all.

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

‘Everyone’s frame of mind is one for all and all for one so that’s absolutely helping us this season. We’ve been having group meals and bonding and that’s brought a great deal of togetherness, states Iwobi.

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

Iwobi will have his work cut out as Fulham handle 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), came back then went again with the Tottenham and Brighton results. We feel like we’re ready to fly and we can do anything together.’

Another group meal is arranged for midweek ahead of a run of three games in seven days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer wishes to take us out. That’s another little complimentary food so I’m not grumbling,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s actually great. It resembles one big household.’

But first, Fulham will head to Anfield with belief, having actually taken points from Arsenal recently and narrowly losing at Man City in October in a game where Pep Guardiola had lots of credit for Fulham.

‘It reveals we have the capability to compete with anyone. We are not terrified. Hopefully it will be the exact same versus Liverpool. We are going there to get a result,’ Iwobi 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