Iwobi Opens up 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 hairdo has assisted his football in what he sees as his best start to a Premier League season up until now.

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

‘My father’s in your house and he’s most likely heard me. He didn’t like that I coloured my hair. I got bored and didn’t wish to cut it off so I thought let’s do something various that no one else has. I told the hair stylist to ‘reveal yourself’ however not too wild. It’s wild due to the fact that it’s red and purple at the minute however I like it. My papa’s accepted it now so I’m easy.’

It’s a stark contrast from the short-haired 19-year-old who made his Arsenal launching 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 however has actually just revealed himself more in current years, going to Paris Fashion Week, releasing singles and releasing his charitable foundation, Project 17.

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

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 actually contributed 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 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 totally free in a regional supermarket.

‘You understand what Liverpool are like – it’s going to be an extreme video game however 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 individuals in the street – he would just buy bottles of water and offer them to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and papa are has motivated me to offer to others, whether they are lucky or less fortunate. With the position I am in, I feel like it’s only right with the influence I have that I offer back too.’

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

‘As a youngster you want to do your best to impress the manager and desire everybody to know you are fully concentrated on football. But it (liberty) features age, being complimentary and not being pressed about unfavorable comments. If it’s useful, you do not mind the criticism,’ he states.

‘You have to be strong mentally. Players succeed when they’re confident and with me, feeling positive to reveal 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 people 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 opportunity to bring him back to London on Deadline Day in 2015. After his brace against Brighton recently, Silva said it was Iwobi’s ‘finest season in the Premier League so far’ and he agrees.

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

Iwobi firmly insists that he’s always 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 release a single with his debut tune ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November released a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’

‘I have been associated with a lot of objectives, contributing a lot, and defensively I have actually been working well. You could say 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 objective’ states Iwobi, who credits Silva for giving him ‘the license to reveal’ himself. ‘It’s great to have a supervisor who gives you the confidence to do that,’ he says.

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

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

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

‘He is tapping the supervisor to listen to the song. The very first time he (Silva) heard ‘What’s Luv?’ he was just vibing like, ‘is this Alex?’ and Calvin was like ‘yes it’s Alex!’ He stated it wasn’t bad. I know the first time he didn’t understand what was stated but he delighted in the beat. So it’s a win-win.

‘Everyone vibes with it and I’m having great feedback from the group – even individuals who don’t speak English as their first language like the Brazilians, they’re vibing also,’ includes Iwobi.

Silva’s strategy at Everton was to develop around the midfielder but he was sacked four 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 throughout the M62 to Manchester and play seven-a-side with his mates in camouflage to enjoy his football again. Now that pleasure has actually been uncovered after his ₤ 22M relocation in 2015.

‘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 which’s brought a lot of togetherness, states Iwobi.

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

Iwobi will have his work eliminated as Fulham handle league leaders Liverpool at Anfield

‘Even when Sander (Berge) and Joa (Andersen) signed, they took us out to eat. We organised a trip 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 7 days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer wishes to take us out. That’s another little bit of free food so I’m not grumbling,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s actually good. It resembles one big household.’

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

‘It shows we have the ability to take on anybody. We are not frightened. Hopefully it will be the very same against Liverpool. We are going there to get an outcome,’ 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 space.

FulhamAlex Iwobi