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 hairstyle has helped his football in what he sees as his finest start to a Premier League season so far.

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

‘My daddy’s in your house and he’s probably heard me. He didn’t like that I coloured my hair. I got bored and didn’t desire to suffice off so I thought let’s do something different that no one else has. I literally told the hairdresser to ‘reveal yourself’ but not too wild. It’s wild because it’s red and purple at the moment but 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 debut under Arsene Wenger in 2015.

Iwobi insists that he’s always had the mindset of feeling like there’s more to life than football but has actually only revealed himself more in current years, going to Paris Fashion Week, launching 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 just recently that I have actually been revealing myself a lot more, to show individuals 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 says his multi-coloured braids have actually 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 hometown, where whatever will be totally free in a regional supermarket.

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

‘In your home I was raised in, my daddy naturally just returned. To people in Nigeria, to his family and even individuals in the street – he would just purchase bottles of water and provide to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and papa are has motivated me to offer to others, whether they are lucky or less lucky. With the position I am in, I feel like it’s only right with the influence I have that I return also.’

Through these initiatives off the pitch, Iwobi thinks is the trick to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has actually already scored more 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 finest to impress the supervisor and desire everyone to know you are fully concentrated on football. But it (flexibility) features age, being free and not being pushed about negative comments. If it’s useful, you do not mind the criticism,’ he states.

‘You have to be strong mentally. Players do well when they’re confident and with me, feeling positive to express myself on and off the pitch, I nearly feel unstoppable. And when you have people 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 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 ‘finest season in the Premier League so far’ and he agrees.

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

Iwobi insists that he’s always 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 associated with a great deal of goals, contributing a lot, and defensively I have been working well. You could state it’s my best start to the season – I simply have to keep it going and make sure it’s my best season. That’s the goal’ states Iwobi, who credits Silva for giving him ‘the license to reveal’ himself. ‘It’s good to have a supervisor who offers you the confidence to do that,’ he states.

Earlier this year, Iwobi became the first Premier League footballer to release a single with his debut song ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November released a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ which is referred to as an event of his African roots with a mix of Afro-Swing blended with Rap”.

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

‘I do not get it on in the dressing room but when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he simply can’t assist 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 however 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 the individuals who do not 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 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 throughout the M62 to Manchester and play seven-a-side with his mates in camouflage to enjoy his football once again. Now that happiness has actually been uncovered after his ₤ 22M move in 2015.

‘Everyone’s mindset is one for all and all for one so that’s absolutely helping us this season. We have actually been having team meals and bonding which’s brought a great deal of togetherness, says 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 handle 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 3 games in seven days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer wishes to take us out. That’s another bit of free food so I’m not grumbling,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s actually nice. It’s like one huge household.’

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

‘It shows we have the capability to compete with anybody. We are not terrified. Hopefully it will be the very same versus Liverpool. We are going there to get a result,’ Iwobi 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