Iwobi Open 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 actually 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 revealing myself),’ the says.

‘My papa’s in your house 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 hairdresser to ‘reveal yourself’ but not too wild. It’s wild due to the fact that it’s red and purple at the minute but I like it. My papa’s accepted it now so I’m simple.’

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

Iwobi firmly insists that he’s always had the mindset of sensation like there’s more to life than football however has actually only revealed himself more in the last few years, going to Paris Fashion Week, launching singles and releasing his charitable structure, Project 17.

‘It’s constantly been my pastime to do music, charity work and things in fashion. But it’s just recently that I’ve 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 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 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 supermarket.

‘You know what Liverpool are like – it’s going to be an intense video 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 daddy naturally simply returned. To people in Nigeria, to his household and even individuals in the street – he would just buy bottles of water and offer them to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and father are has influenced me to offer to others, whether they are lucky or less fortunate. With the position I am in, I seem like it’s only best with the influence I have that I provide back as well.’

Through these efforts off the pitch, Iwobi thinks is the secret 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 youngster you wish to do your finest to impress the supervisor and desire everyone to understand you are fully focused on football. But it (flexibility) features age, being free and not being pressed about negative remarks. If it’s positive, 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 positive to reveal myself on and off the pitch, I practically feel unstoppable. And when you have people that back you, it actually plays a part.’

Among 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 versus 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 households on Sunday for Christmas as part of Project 17

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

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?’

‘I have been included in a great deal of objectives, contributing a lot, and defensively I have been working well. You might state it’s my best start to the season – I just have to keep it going and ensure it’s my best season. That’s the objective’ says Iwobi, who credits Silva for giving him ‘the license to reveal’ himself. ‘It’s nice to have a supervisor who offers you the self-confidence to do that,’ he states.

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?’ which is explained as a celebration of his African roots with a blend of Afro-Swing blended with Rap».

It’s likewise a tune that Silva’s enjoying in the dressing space, with Fulham making their best start to a top-flight season since 2003-04.

‘I do not get it on in the dressing space however when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he just can’t help 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 was like ‘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 delighted in the beat. So it’s a win-win.

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

Silva’s strategy at Everton was to develop 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 disguise to enjoy his football once again. Now that joy has actually been discovered after his ₤ 22M move last year.

‘Everyone’s frame of mind is one for all and all for one so that’s certainly 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 first signed the Nigerian at Everton then brought him to Fulham later on 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), returned then went once again with the Tottenham and Brighton results. We feel 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 video 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 grumbling,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s truly nice. It’s like one big family.’

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 game where Pep Guardiola was full of credit for Fulham.

‘It shows we have the ability to take on anyone. 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 may well be hearing ‘What’s Luv’ blasting out from the away dressing room.

FulhamAlex Iwobi