Alex Iwobi is talking about the multi-coloured braids in his hair and how even his hairdo has helped his football in what he sees as his best start to a Premier League season up until now.
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‘Yeah, that actually plays a part (in revealing myself),’ the Fulham midfielder states.

‘My father’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 thought let’s do something different that nobody else has. I literally informed the hairdresser to ‘express yourself’ however not too wild. It’s wild because it’s red and purple at the minute but I like it. My daddy’s accepted it now so I’m easy.’

It’s a plain contrast from the short-haired 19-year-old who made his under Arsene Wenger in 2015.
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Iwobi firmly insists that he’s constantly had the mindset of feeling like there’s more to life than football but has just expressed himself more in the last few years, going to Paris Fashion Week, releasing singles and launching his charitable foundation, Project 17.

‘It’s constantly been my hobby to do music, charity work and things in style. But it’s just just recently that I have actually been revealing myself a lot more, to reveal individuals that I am not simply a footballer. There is more to life, he says.

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 added to his on-pitch enhancement

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 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 whatever will be totally free in a local supermarket.

‘You know what Liverpool resemble - it’s going to be an extreme video game but 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 just returned. To people in Nigeria, to his household and even individuals in the street - he would simply purchase bottles of water and offer them to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and dad are has inspired me to offer to others, whether they are fortunate or less lucky. With the position I remain in, I seem like it’s only ideal with the influence I have that I offer back too.’

Through these efforts off the pitch, Iwobi thinks is the secret to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has actually currently scored more goals 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 want everybody to know you are completely focused on football. But it (freedom) features age, being totally free and not being pushed about negative comments. If it’s constructive, you don’t mind the criticism,’ he states.

‘You have to be strong mentally. Players succeed when they’re positive and with me, feeling confident to reveal myself on and off the pitch, I practically feel unstoppable. And when you have individuals 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 be reluctant when he had the opportunity to bring him back to London on Deadline Day last year. After his brace against Brighton last week, Silva stated 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 constantly had the frame of mind of feeling like there’s more to life than football

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

‘I have actually been involved in a great deal of goals, contributing a lot, and defensively I have been working well. You could state it’s my finest start to the season - I simply need to keep it going and make sure it’s my best season. That’s the objective’ says Iwobi, who credits Silva for giving him ‘the license to express’ himself. ‘It’s great to have a manager who gives you the self-confidence to do that,’ he says.

Earlier this year, Iwobi became the very first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his launching song ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November released a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ which is referred to as a celebration 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 room, with Fulham making their finest 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 help 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 stated it wasn’t bad. I understand 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 good feedback from the team - even the people who do not speak English as their first language like the Brazilians, they’re vibing also,’ includes Iwobi.

Silva’s plan at Everton was to develop around the midfielder but he was sacked 4 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 delight has actually been rediscovered after his ₤ 22M move in 2015.
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‘Everyone’s state of mind is one for all and all for one so that’s definitely helping 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 initially 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 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 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 seven days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer desires to take us out. That’s another little totally 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 actually taken points from Arsenal recently and directly losing at Man City in October in a game where Pep Guardiola had plenty of credit for Fulham.

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