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Iwobi Opens up 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 hairstyle has assisted his football in what he sees as his best start to a Premier League season so far.

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

‘My dad’s in your house 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 nobody else has. I actually told the hairdresser to ‘express yourself’ but not too wild. It’s wild because it’s red and purple at the moment however I like it. My papa’s accepted it now so I’m simple.’

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 constantly had the state of mind of sensation like there’s more to life than football however has just expressed himself more in current years, going to Paris Fashion Week, releasing singles 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 just just recently that I have actually been expressing myself a lot more, to show people that I am not just 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 contributed to his on-pitch improvement

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

‘In the home I was raised in, my father naturally just offered back. To people in Nigeria, to his family and even individuals in the street – he would just buy bottles of water and provide them to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and papa are has actually influenced 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 too.’

Through these efforts off the pitch, Iwobi thinks is the trick 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 two points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.

‘As a child you desire to do your best to impress the manager and want everyone to know you are completely focused on football. But it (freedom) features age, being totally free and not being pressed about negative remarks. If it’s useful, you don’t mind the criticism,’ he states.

‘You have to be strong psychologically. Players succeed when they’re confident and with me, feeling great to express myself on and off the pitch, I almost 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 hesitate when he had the chance to bring him back to London on Deadline Day in 2015. After his brace versus Brighton last week, Silva stated it was Iwobi’s ‘best season in the Premier League up until now’ and he agrees.

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 feeling like there’s more to life than football

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

‘I have actually 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 make certain it’s my best season. That’s the objective’ states Iwobi, who credits Silva for giving him ‘the license to express’ himself. ‘It’s good to have a supervisor who offers 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 a celebration of his with a blend of Afro-Swing combined 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 don’t get it on in the dressing space 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 very 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 said but he took pleasure in the beat. So it’s a win-win.

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

Silva’s plan at Everton was to construct around the midfielder however he was sacked 4 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 delight has been discovered after his ₤ 22M relocation in 2015.

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

Marco Silva first signed the Nigerian at Everton then brought him to Fulham later on 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 journey to Paris to clear our heads (after the Wolves loss), came back then went 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 little bit of totally free food so I’m not grumbling,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s actually nice. It’s like one big family.’

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

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

Get something at Anfield and Arne Slot’s league-leaders may well be hearing ‘What’s Luv’ blasting out from the away dressing room.

FulhamAlex Iwobi