Iwobi Opens up 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 assisted his football in what he sees as his best start to a Premier League season up until now.

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

‘My daddy’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 want to suffice off so I thought let’s do something different that nobody else has. I literally told the hairdresser to ‘express yourself’ but not too wild. It’s wild due to the fact that it’s red and purple at the moment but I like it. My daddy’s accepted it now so I’m simple.’

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 constantly had the frame of mind of feeling like there’s more to life than football however has actually just revealed himself more over the last few years, going to Paris Fashion Week, releasing songs and releasing his charitable structure, Project 17.

‘It’s constantly been my hobby to do music, charity work and things in style. But it’s only 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 states.

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

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

It’s a stark contrast from the short-haired teen who made his launching 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 families for Christmas as part of Project 17.

For one day, there will be an AleXpress in Canning Town, his home town, where whatever will be complimentary in a regional grocery store.

‘You understand what Liverpool are like – it’s going to be an extreme game however whether I get constrain or have no hamstrings, I will be there on Sunday,’ Iwobi tensions.

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

Through these initiatives off the pitch, Iwobi thinks is the trick to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has currently scored more goals than in any other season, with 5 in the league for a Fulham side that is simply 2 points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.

‘As a youngster you want to do your finest to impress the manager and desire everybody to understand you are totally concentrated on football. But it (flexibility) features age, being complimentary and not being pushed about negative remarks. If it’s useful, you don’t mind the criticism,’ he says.

‘You have to be strong psychologically. Players succeed when they’re positive and with me, feeling great to express myself on and off the pitch, I nearly feel unstoppable. And when you have people that back you, it truly 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 think twice when he had the chance to bring him back to London on Deadline Day in 2015. After his brace versus Brighton recently, 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 firmly insists that he’s always had the frame 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 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 say it’s my best start to the season – I just need to keep it going and make certain it’s my best season. That’s the goal’ says Iwobi, who credits Silva for giving him ‘the license to himself. ‘It’s great to have a manager who offers you the confidence to do that,’ he states.

Earlier this year, Iwobi became the very first Premier League footballer to release 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 combined with Rap”.

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

‘I don’t get it on in the dressing space but 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 song. 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 however he took pleasure in the beat. So it’s a win-win.

‘Everyone vibes with it and I’m having excellent 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 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 camouflage to enjoy his football again. Now that pleasure 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’ve been having team meals and bonding and that’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 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 feel like we’re prepared to fly and we can do anything together.’

Another team meal is organised for midweek ahead of a run of three games in 7 days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer wishes to take us out. That’s another little bit of totally free food so I’m not grumbling,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s truly great. It’s like one huge household.’

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 video game where Pep Guardiola had plenty of credit for Fulham.

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

FulhamAlex Iwobi