Iwobi Open on how his Hairstyle, Fashion and Music have Actually Helped Him

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

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

‘My father’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 wish to cut it off so I believed let’s do something different that no one else has. I actually told the hair stylist to ‘reveal yourself’ but not too wild. It’s wild because it’s red and purple at the minute but I like it. My daddy’s accepted it now so I’m easy.’

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

Iwobi firmly insists that he’s constantly had the state of mind of feeling like there’s more to life than football however has just expressed himself more recently, going to Paris Fashion Week, launching songs and releasing his charitable foundation, Project 17.

‘It’s always been my pastime to do music, charity work and things in fashion. But it’s just 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 5 goals in 15 matches

The 28-year-old says his multi-coloured braids have actually 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 eliminated 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 hometown, where everything will be totally free in a regional supermarket.

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

‘In your home I was raised in, my daddy naturally just offered back. To people 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 dad are has actually inspired me to provide to others, whether they are fortunate or less lucky. With the position I am in, I feel like it’s just right with the impact I have that I return also.’

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 just 2 points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.

‘As a youngster you want to do your finest to impress the supervisor and want everyone to know you are completely concentrated on football. But it (freedom) comes with age, being totally free and not being pressed about unfavorable comments. If it’s useful, you don’t mind the criticism,’ he says.

‘You need to be strong psychologically. 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 individuals 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 in 2019, and didn’t think twice 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 ‘finest season in the Premier League so far’ and he agrees.

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 sensation like there’s more to life than football

Earlier this year, Iwobi became the very first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his debut song ‘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 been working well. You could state it’s my best start to the season – I simply need to keep it going and ensure it’s my finest season. That’s the objective’ states Iwobi, who credits Silva for giving him ‘the license to reveal’ himself. ‘It’s good to have a supervisor who gives you the self-confidence to do that,’ he says.

Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the very first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his launching 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 blend of Afro-Swing blended with Rap”.

It’s also 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 don’t get it on in the dressing space but when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he simply can’t help himself, Iwobi reveals.

‘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 stated it wasn’t bad. I know the very first time he didn’t comprehend what was stated however he enjoyed the beat. So it’s a win-win.

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

Silva’s strategy 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 hardly played him at all.

Iwobi would travel across the M62 to Manchester and play seven-a-side with his mates in camouflage to enjoy his football once again. Now that joy has actually been uncovered after his ₤ 22M move in 2015.

‘Everyone’s mindset is one for all and all for one so that’s certainly assisting us this season. We have actually 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 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 eat. We arranged 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 prepared to fly and we can do anything together.’

Another group meal is arranged for midweek ahead of a run of 3 games in seven days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer desires to take us out. That’s another little complimentary food so I’m not grumbling,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s truly great. It’s like one big household.’

But first, 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 complete of credit for Fulham.

‘It reveals we have the ability to compete with anybody. We are not scared. Hopefully it will be the exact same against Liverpool. We are going there to get an outcome,’ Iwobi 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