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

Alex Iwobi is discussing the multi-coloured braids in his hair and how even his hairdo has actually 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 daddy’s in the house and he’s probably 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 different that no one else has. I literally told the hairdresser to ‘reveal yourself’ however not too wild. It’s wild because it’s red and purple at the moment however I like it. My daddy’s accepted it now so I’m easy.’

It’s a stark contrast from the short-haired 19-year-old who made his Arsenal debut 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 just revealed himself more recently, going to Paris Fashion Week, releasing singles and releasing his charitable foundation, 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 have actually been expressing myself a lot more, to reveal individuals that I am not simply a footballer. There is more to life, he states.

Alexi Iwobi has made his best start to a Premier League season with 5 goals in 15 matches

The 28-year-old states his multi-coloured braids have actually contributed to his on-pitch enhancement

It’s a stark 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 take on league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday and on Sunday, he will be back in London feeding 100 households for Christmas as part of Project 17.

For one day, there will be an AleXpress in Canning Town, his hometown, where everything will be complimentary in a local supermarket.

‘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 tensions.

‘In your home I was raised in, my daddy naturally simply provided back. To individuals in Nigeria, to his household and even people in the street – he would just purchase bottles of water and provide them to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and father are has actually inspired me to offer to others, whether they are lucky or less lucky. With the position I am in, I feel like it’s only ideal with the impact I have that I return also.’

Through these efforts off the pitch, Iwobi believes is the secret to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has already scored more objectives than in any other season, with five in the league for a Fulham side that is just 2 points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.

‘As a youngster you wish to do your finest to impress the manager and desire everybody to know you are fully focused on football. But it (freedom) features age, being free and not being pushed about negative comments. If it’s positive, you don’t mind the criticism,’ he states.

‘You need to be strong psychologically. Players succeed when they’re positive 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 against Brighton last week, Silva said it was Iwobi’s ‘finest season in the Premier League up until now’ and he agrees.

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

Iwobi firmly 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 very first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his debut tune ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November released a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’

‘I have been involved in a great deal of goals, contributing a lot, and defensively I have actually been working well. You might state it’s my best 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 providing him ‘the license to express’ himself. ‘It’s nice to have a manager who offers you the confidence to do that,’ he says.

Earlier this year, Iwobi became 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 referred to as a 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 considering 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 help himself, Iwobi exposes.

‘He is tapping the manager to listen to the tune. The very 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 comprehend 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 first language like the Brazilians, they’re vibing also,’ includes Iwobi.

Silva’s plan at Everton was to construct around the midfielder however 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 happiness has actually been rediscovered after his ₤ 22M relocation in 2015.

‘Everyone’s frame of mind is one for all and all for one so that’s definitely assisting us this season. We have actually been having team 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 journey to Paris to clear our heads (after the Wolves loss), returned then went once again with the Tottenham and Brighton results. We seem like we’re ready to fly and we can do anything together.’

Another group meal is arranged for midweek ahead of a run of three video games in 7 days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer wants to take us out. That’s another bit of free food so I’m not complaining,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s really good. It’s like one big household.’

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

‘It reveals we have the capability to take on anybody. We are not terrified. Hopefully it will be the very 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