Iwobi Opens up 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 hairdo has helped his football in what he views as his finest start to a Premier so far.

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

‘My father’s in your home and he’s most likely heard me. He didn’t like that I coloured my hair. I got tired and didn’t want to cut it off so I thought let’s do something different that nobody else has. I actually told the hairdresser to ‘reveal yourself’ but not too wild. It’s wild since it’s red and purple at the minute 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 insists that he’s always had the state of mind of feeling like there’s more to life than football but has just revealed himself more recently, going to Paris Fashion Week, launching songs and launching 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’ve been expressing myself a lot more, to show 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 five goals in 15 matches

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

It’s a plain contrast from the short-haired teenager who made his debut 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 home town, where whatever will be totally free in a regional supermarket.

‘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 stresses.

‘In the house I was raised in, my father naturally simply returned. To individuals in Nigeria, to his family 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 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 just right with the influence I have that I return as well.’

Through these efforts off the pitch, Iwobi thinks is the secret to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has actually 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 want to do your best to impress the manager and want everybody to understand you are completely focused on football. But it (flexibility) features age, being free and not being pressed about unfavorable comments. If it’s useful, you don’t mind the criticism,’ he says.

‘You need to be strong mentally. Players succeed when they’re confident 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 truly plays a part.’

One of 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 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 concurs.

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 sensation like there’s more to life than football

Earlier this year, Iwobi became 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 been associated with a lot of goals, contributing a lot, and defensively I have actually been working well. You might say it’s my finest start to the season – I simply need to keep it going and make certain it’s my finest season. That’s the objective’ states Iwobi, who credits Silva for offering him ‘the license to express’ himself. ‘It’s good to have a manager who provides 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 released a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ which is referred to as an event of his African roots with a blend of Afro-Swing combined with Rap”.

It’s likewise 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 don’t 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 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 know the very first time he didn’t comprehend what was said however he delighted in the beat. So it’s a win-win.

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

Silva’s strategy 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 barely 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 delight 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 helping us this season. We have actually been having team meals and bonding and that’s brought a great deal of togetherness, says Iwobi.

Marco Silva initially signed the Nigerian at Everton then brought him to Fulham later 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 eat. We arranged a trip to Paris to clear our heads (after the Wolves loss), came back 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 organised for midweek ahead of a run of 3 games in seven days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer wants to take us out. That’s another little bit of totally free food so I’m not grumbling,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s actually great. It resembles 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 video game where Pep Guardiola had plenty of credit for Fulham.

‘It reveals we have the capability to compete with anybody. We are not frightened. Hopefully it will be the same versus Liverpool. We are going there to get an outcome,’ 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 room.

FulhamAlex Iwobi