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

Alex Iwobi is discussing the multi-coloured braids in his hair and how even his hairdo 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 expressing myself),’ the Fulham midfielder states.

‘My daddy’s in the home and he’s most likely 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 various that no one else has. I literally told the to ‘reveal yourself’ but not too wild. It’s wild because it’s red and purple at the minute but I like it. My father’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 insists that he’s always had the mindset of feeling like there’s more to life than football however has just expressed himself more recently, going to Paris Fashion Week, launching singles and launching his charitable structure, Project 17.

‘It’s always been my hobby to do music, charity work and things in style. But it’s only just recently that I’ve been expressing myself a lot more, to show individuals that I am not simply a footballer. There is more to life, he states.

Alexi Iwobi has made his finest start to a Premier League season with five objectives in 15 matches

The 28-year-old says his multi-coloured braids have added to his on-pitch improvement

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 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 home town, where everything will be complimentary in a regional grocery store.

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

‘In your home I was raised in, my father naturally just offered back. To individuals in Nigeria, to his family and even people in the street – he would just purchase bottles of water and provide them to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and papa are has motivated me to provide to others, whether they are fortunate or less fortunate. With the position I am in, I seem like it’s only ideal with the influence I have that I provide back also.’

Through these initiatives off the pitch, Iwobi thinks is the trick to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has already scored more goals 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 child you want to do your finest to impress the supervisor and desire everybody to understand you are totally focused on football. But it (liberty) comes with age, being free and not being pressed about unfavorable comments. If it’s useful, you do not mind the criticism,’ he says.

‘You have to be strong mentally. Players do well when they’re confident and with me, feeling great to reveal myself on and off the pitch, I almost feel unstoppable. And when you have people that back you, it really 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 hesitate 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 ‘best season in the Premier League up until now’ and he concurs.

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

Iwobi insists that he’s always had the state of mind of feeling 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 launched a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’

‘I have actually been associated with a lot of objectives, contributing a lot, and defensively I have actually been working well. You could 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 giving him ‘the license to reveal’ himself. ‘It’s great to have a supervisor who offers you the self-confidence to do that,’ he says.

Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the very first Premier League footballer to release a single with his launching song ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November released a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ which is referred to 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 room, with Fulham making their finest start to a top-flight season because 2003-04.

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

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

‘Everyone vibes with it and I’m having great feedback from the team – even the individuals who do not speak English as their mother tongue like the Brazilians, they’re vibing also,’ includes Iwobi.

Silva’s strategy at Everton was to construct 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 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 pleasure has been rediscovered after his ₤ 22M move in 2015.

‘Everyone’s mindset is one for all and all for one so that’s absolutely helping us this season. We have actually been having group meals and bonding which’s brought a lot of togetherness, states Iwobi.

Marco Silva initially 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 consume. We arranged 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 feel like we’re ready to fly and we can do anything together.’

Another team meal is arranged for midweek ahead of a run of three games in 7 days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer desires to take us out. That’s another bit of complimentary food so I’m not complaining,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s truly great. It’s like one huge family.’

But initially, Fulham will head to Anfield with belief, having taken points from Arsenal last week and directly losing at Man City in October in a video game where Pep Guardiola had plenty of credit for Fulham.

‘It reveals we have the capability to complete with anybody. We are not terrified. Hopefully it will be the exact same versus Liverpool. We are going there to get a result,’ 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 room.

FulhamAlex Iwobi