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

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

‘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 wish to cut it off so I thought let’s do something different that nobody else has. I literally informed the hair stylist to ‘express yourself’ but not too wild. It’s wild since it’s red and purple at the minute but I like it. My dad’s accepted it now so I’m simple.’

It’s a plain contrast from the short-haired 19-year-old who made his Arsenal launching 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 but has only revealed himself more over the last few years, going to Paris Fashion Week, launching songs and launching his charitable foundation, Project 17.

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

Alexi Iwobi has actually made his finest 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 plain 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 resemble – it’s going to be an intense game however whether I get cramp or have no hamstrings, I will be there on Sunday,’ Iwobi tensions.

‘In your house I was raised in, my dad naturally simply provided back. To individuals in Nigeria, to his family and even people in the street – he would just buy bottles of water and provide to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and daddy are has actually influenced me to offer to others, whether they are lucky or less lucky. With the position I remain in, I seem like it’s only best with the influence I have that I offer back also.’

Through these efforts off the pitch, Iwobi believes is the trick 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 desire to do your finest to impress the manager and desire everybody to know you are completely focused on football. But it (flexibility) includes age, being complimentary and not being pushed about negative remarks. If it’s constructive, you don’t mind the criticism,’ he says.

‘You need to be strong mentally. Players succeed when they’re confident 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 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 think twice when he had the chance to bring him back to London on Deadline Day in 2015. After his brace against Brighton recently, Silva said it was Iwobi’s ‘finest season in the Premier League up until now’ and he .

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 mindset 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 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 been working well. You could say it’s my best start to the season – I just have to keep it going and ensure it’s my finest season. That’s the goal’ states Iwobi, who credits Silva for giving him ‘the license to reveal’ himself. ‘It’s great to have a manager who gives you the self-confidence to do that,’ he states.

Earlier this year, Iwobi became the very first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his launching tune ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November released a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ which is described 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 space, with Fulham making their best start to a top-flight season because 2003-04.

‘I do not get it on in the dressing room but when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he just 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 understand the first time he didn’t understand what was said but he enjoyed the beat. So it’s a win-win.

‘Everyone vibes with it and I’m having excellent feedback from the team – even the individuals who do not speak English as their very first language like the Brazilians, they’re vibing also,’ includes Iwobi.

Silva’s plan at Everton was to build 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 throughout the M62 to Manchester and play seven-a-side with his mates in disguise to enjoy his football again. Now that joy has been found after his ₤ 22M relocation in 2015.

‘Everyone’s state of mind is one for all and all for one so that’s certainly assisting 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 first 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 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 all set 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 complaining,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s actually great. It’s like one big family.’

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

‘It reveals we have the ability 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