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 assisted his football in what he views as his finest start to a Premier League season so far.

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

‘My father’s in your house and he’s probably heard me. He didn’t like that I coloured my hair. I got bored and didn’t want to suffice off so I believed let’s do something different that nobody else has. I literally told the hair stylist to ‘reveal yourself’ however not too wild. It’s wild because it’s red and purple at the minute however I like it. My daddy’s accepted it now so I’m easy.’

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

Iwobi firmly insists that he’s always had the mindset of feeling like there’s more to life than football but has only expressed himself more over the last few years, going to Paris Fashion Week, launching songs and launching his charitable foundation, Project 17.

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

Alexi Iwobi has actually 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 contributed to his on-pitch enhancement

It’s a plain contrast from the short-haired teen 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 families 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 local grocery store.

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

‘In the home I was raised in, my papa naturally just returned. To people in Nigeria, to his family and even people in the street – he would just buy bottles of water and offer them to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and papa are has actually motivated me to provide to others, whether they are lucky or less lucky. With the position I remain in, I feel like it’s only right with the impact I have that I give back too.’

Through these efforts off the pitch, Iwobi believes is the trick to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has currently scored more objectives 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 child you wish to do your best to impress the manager and desire everybody to understand you are totally concentrated on football. But it (liberty) includes age, being free and not being pushed about unfavorable remarks. If it’s useful, you don’t mind the criticism,’ he states.

‘You have to be strong mentally. Players succeed when they’re positive and with me, feeling great to express 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 individuals that backs him is Marco Silva, who signed Iwobi for ₤ 35M at Everton from Arsenal in 2019, and didn’t be when he had the chance to bring him back to London on Deadline Day last year. After his brace against Brighton last week, Silva said it was Iwobi’s ‘best season in the Premier League up until now’ and he agrees.

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

Iwobi insists that he’s always had the state of mind of sensation like there’s more to life than football

Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the very 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 included in a great deal of objectives, contributing a lot, and defensively I have 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’ states Iwobi, who credits Silva for offering him ‘the license to express’ himself. ‘It’s good to have a manager who provides you the self-confidence to do that,’ he says.

Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his debut tune ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November launched a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ which is explained as an event 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 finest start to a top-flight season because 2003-04.

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

‘He is tapping the manager to listen to the song. The 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 first time he didn’t understand 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 first language like the Brazilians, they’re vibing also,’ includes Iwobi.

Silva’s plan 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 take a trip across the M62 to Manchester and play seven-a-side with his mates in disguise to enjoy his football once again. Now that pleasure has actually been discovered after his ₤ 22M relocation in 2015.

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

Marco Silva initially signed the Nigerian at Everton then brought him to Fulham later on 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 organised a journey to Paris to clear our heads (after the Wolves loss), returned then went once again with the Tottenham and Brighton results. We feel like we’re all set to fly and we can do anything together.’

Another team meal is arranged for midweek ahead of a run of 3 video games in 7 days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer wants to take us out. That’s another bit of complimentary food so I’m not grumbling,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s really good. It’s like one huge household.’

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 was full of credit for Fulham.

‘It shows we have the capability to take on anyone. We are not terrified. Hopefully it will be the very same against 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