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

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

‘My daddy’s in your home and he’s most likely heard me. He didn’t like that I coloured my hair. I got tired and didn’t desire to cut it off so I believed let’s do something different that no one else has. I actually informed the hairdresser to ‘reveal yourself’ but not too wild. It’s wild because it’s red and purple at the moment however I like it. My 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 insists that he’s always had the frame of mind of feeling like there’s more to life than football but has actually just expressed himself more in the last few years, going to Paris Fashion Week, releasing songs and launching his charitable structure, Project 17.

‘It’s always been my hobby to do music, charity work and things in fashion. But it’s only 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 best start to a Premier League season with 5 goals in 15 matches

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

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

This weekend, the 28-year-old will have his work eliminated as Fulham handle 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 complimentary in a local grocery store.

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

‘In your house I was raised in, my daddy naturally just returned. To individuals in Nigeria, to his family and even individuals in the street – he would just purchase bottles of water and provide to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and daddy are has motivated me to offer to others, whether they are lucky or less fortunate. With the position I remain in, I seem like it’s only best with the impact I have that I return too.’

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

‘As a youngster you wish to do your best to impress the supervisor and desire everybody to know you are totally focused on football. But it (liberty) includes age, being free and not being pressed about negative remarks. If it’s constructive, you do not mind the criticism,’ he says.

‘You have to be strong mentally. Players do well when they’re positive and with me, feeling great 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.’

One of those individuals 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 against Brighton recently, Silva stated it was Iwobi’s ‘best season in the Premier League up until now’ and he concurs.

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

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

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

‘I have actually been included in 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 just need to keep it going and make certain it’s my best season. That’s the goal’ says Iwobi, who credits Silva for offering him ‘the license to reveal’ himself. ‘It’s good to have a supervisor who provides you the self-confidence to do that,’ he states.

Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the very 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 a celebration of his African roots with a blend of Afro-Swing mixed 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 room but when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he simply can’t help himself, Iwobi exposes.

‘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 resembled ‘yes it’s Alex!’ He stated it wasn’t bad. I know the very first time he didn’t understand what was stated 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 the people who do not speak English as their mother tongue like the Brazilians, they’re vibing as well,’ adds Iwobi.

Silva’s strategy at Everton was to construct around the midfielder however 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 across the M62 to Manchester and play seven-a-side with his mates in camouflage to enjoy his football again. Now that happiness has actually been rediscovered after his ₤ 22M move in 2015.

‘Everyone’s frame of mind is one for all and all for one so that’s certainly assisting us this season. We’ve been having group meals and bonding and that’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 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 games in 7 days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer wants 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 family.’

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

‘It reveals 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 might well be hearing ‘What’s Luv’ blasting out from the away dressing room.

FulhamAlex Iwobi