Iwobi Opens up on how his Hairstyle, Fashion and Music have Actually 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 sees as his best start to a Premier League season so far.

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

‘My father’s in your home and he’s probably heard me. He didn’t like that I coloured my hair. I got tired and didn’t wish to cut it off so I thought let’s do something various that nobody else has. I literally informed the hair stylist to ‘reveal yourself’ however not too wild. It’s wild since it’s red and purple at the minute 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 insists that he’s always had the mindset of feeling like there’s more to life than football however has actually only revealed himself more in current years, going to Paris Fashion Week, releasing singles and releasing his charitable structure, Project 17.

‘It’s constantly been my hobby to do music, charity work and things in fashion. But it’s only just recently that I have actually been revealing 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 five goals in 15 matches

The 28-year-old states his multi-coloured braids have added 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 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 whatever will be complimentary in a regional supermarket.

‘You understand what Liverpool are like – it’s going to be an intense video 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 father naturally just returned. To people in Nigeria, to his family and even people in the street – he would just purchase bottles of water and give them to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and papa are has inspired me to provide to others, whether they are lucky or less lucky. With the position I am in, I seem like it’s just right with the influence I have that I give back also.’

Through these efforts 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 five in the league for a Fulham side that is simply two points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.

‘As a child you wish to do your best to impress the supervisor and desire everyone to understand you are totally concentrated on football. But it (flexibility) features age, being complimentary and not being pushed about unfavorable comments. If it’s positive, you do not mind the criticism,’ he says.

‘You have to be strong mentally. Players succeed when they’re positive 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 really plays a part.’

One of those people 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 last week, 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 families on Sunday for Christmas as part of Project 17

Iwobi insists that he’s constantly had the mindset of feeling like there’s more to life than football

Earlier this year, Iwobi became the 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?’

‘I have been associated with a great deal of objectives, contributing a lot, and defensively I have been working well. You could state it’s my finest start to the season – I just need to keep it going and ensure it’s my best season. That’s the aim’ says Iwobi, who credits Silva for offering him ‘the license to express’ himself. ‘It’s great 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 launch a single with his debut song ‘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 mixed 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 do not get it on in the dressing space however when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he simply can’t assist himself, Iwobi exposes.

‘He is tapping the supervisor to listen to the tune. The very first time he (Silva) heard ‘What’s Luv?’ he was simply vibing like, ‘is this Alex?’ and Calvin resembled ‘yes it’s Alex!’ He said it wasn’t bad. I understand the very first time he didn’t comprehend what was said however he took pleasure in 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 don’t speak English as their very first language like the Brazilians, they’re vibing also,’ adds Iwobi.

Silva’s plan 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 barely played him at all.

Iwobi would travel throughout the M62 to Manchester and play seven-a-side with his mates in disguise to enjoy his football once again. Now that pleasure has been rediscovered after his ₤ 22M relocation in 2015.

‘Everyone’s mindset is one for all and all for one so that’s definitely assisting us this season. We’ve been having group meals and bonding and that’s brought a great deal of togetherness, states Iwobi.

Marco Silva initially signed the Nigerian at Everton then brought him to Fulham later on 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 consume. We arranged a trip to Paris to clear our heads (after the Wolves loss), returned then went again with the Tottenham and Brighton results. We seem 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 three video games in 7 days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer desires to take us out. That’s another little bit of complimentary food so I’m not complaining,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s really nice. It resembles one big household.’

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

‘It shows we have the capability to complete with anyone. We are not frightened. Hopefully it will be the very 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