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

Alex Iwobi is talking about the multi-coloured braids in his hair and how even his hairdo has actually helped his football in what he views as his finest start to a Premier League season up until now.

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

‘My daddy’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 want to suffice off so I believed let’s do something different that no one else has. I literally informed the hairdresser to ‘express yourself’ however not too wild. It’s wild due to the fact that it’s red and purple at the moment but 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 firmly insists that he’s constantly had the mindset of feeling like there’s more to life than football but has just expressed himself more recently, going to Paris Fashion Week, launching songs and releasing his charitable structure, Project 17.

‘It’s always been my hobby 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 individuals that I am not simply 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 states his multi-coloured braids have actually contributed to his on-pitch improvement

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

This weekend, the 28-year-old will have his work cut out as Fulham handle 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 home town, where everything will be totally free in a local grocery store.

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

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

Through these initiatives off the pitch, Iwobi believes is the secret to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has currently scored more objectives than in any other season, with 5 in the league for a Fulham side that is simply 2 points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.

‘As a youngster you wish to do your best to impress the manager and desire everybody to know you are fully focused on football. But it (flexibility) comes with age, being free and not being pushed about unfavorable remarks. If it’s useful, you do not mind the criticism,’ he states.

‘You have to be strong psychologically. 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 individuals that back you, it actually 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 think twice when he had the opportunity to bring him back to London on Deadline Day last year. After his brace against Brighton last week, 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 insists that he’s constantly had the state 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 launched a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’

‘I have actually been included in a great deal of objectives, contributing a lot, and defensively I have actually been working well. You might say it’s my best start to the season – I simply 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 supervisor who gives you the confidence to do that,’ he says.

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 launched a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ which is explained 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 finest start to a top-flight season given that 2003-04.

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

‘He is tapping the supervisor to listen to the tune. 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 understand the very 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 the people who don’t speak English as their very first language like the Brazilians, they’re vibing as well,’ includes Iwobi.

Silva’s plan at Everton was to build 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 travel throughout the M62 to Manchester and play seven-a-side with his mates in camouflage to enjoy his football once again. Now that delight has actually been uncovered after his ₤ 22M relocation last year.

‘Everyone’s state of mind is one for all and all for one so that’s certainly helping us this season. We have actually been having team 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 take on league leaders Liverpool at Anfield

‘Even when Sander (Berge) and Joa (Andersen) signed, they took us out to consume. We organised a trip to Paris to clear our heads (after the Wolves loss), came back then went once again with the Tottenham and Brighton results. We seem like we’re all set to fly and we can do anything together.’

Another group meal is organised for midweek ahead of a run of three games in seven days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer desires to take us out. That’s another bit of totally free food so I’m not complaining,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s really nice. It’s like one big family.’

But initially, Fulham will head to Anfield with belief, having taken points from Arsenal recently and directly 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 contend with anyone. We are not frightened. 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 space.

FulhamAlex Iwobi