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 helped his football in what he views as his finest start to a Premier League season up until now.

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

‘My in your home 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 believed let’s do something various that nobody else has. I literally told the hair stylist to ‘express yourself’ however 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 plain 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 actually just expressed himself more over the last few years, going to Paris Fashion Week, releasing singles and releasing his charitable foundation, Project 17.

‘It’s constantly been my pastime 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 actually made his finest 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 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 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 totally free in a regional grocery store.

‘You know what Liverpool resemble – it’s going to be an extreme game however whether I get constrain or have no hamstrings, I will exist on Sunday,’ Iwobi stresses.

‘In the home I was raised in, my daddy naturally simply returned. To individuals in Nigeria, to his family and even individuals in the street – he would just buy bottles of water and provide to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and father are has motivated me to provide to others, whether they are lucky or less lucky. With the position I am in, I feel like it’s only best with the impact 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 currently scored more goals than in any other season, with 5 in the league for a Fulham side that is just 2 points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.

‘As a child you wish to do your best to impress the manager and desire everybody to know you are totally concentrated on football. But it (liberty) features age, being totally free and not being pressed about unfavorable comments. If it’s positive, you do not mind the criticism,’ he states.

‘You have to be strong psychologically. Players succeed when they’re positive and with me, feeling confident to express myself on and off the pitch, I almost feel unstoppable. And when you have people that back you, it really 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 be reluctant when he had the opportunity to bring him back to London on Deadline Day last year. After his brace versus 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 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 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?’

‘I have actually been involved in a great deal 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 have to keep it going and make certain it’s my best season. That’s the aim’ states Iwobi, who credits Silva for offering him ‘the license to express’ himself. ‘It’s great to have a manager who gives you the confidence to do that,’ he says.

Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the first Premier League footballer to release a single with his debut tune ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November launched a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ which is referred to as a celebration of his African roots with a blend of Afro-Swing blended 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 don’t get it on in the dressing room however when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he simply can’t help himself, Iwobi reveals.

‘He is tapping the supervisor to listen to the tune. The first time he (Silva) heard ‘What’s Luv?’ he was simply 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 understand what was stated but 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 don’t speak English as their first language like the Brazilians, they’re vibing too,’ adds Iwobi.

Silva’s strategy at Everton was to develop around the midfielder but 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 camouflage to enjoy his football again. Now that happiness has actually been rediscovered after his ₤ 22M move in 2015.

‘Everyone’s state of mind is one for all and all for one so that’s definitely assisting us this season. We have actually been having group meals and bonding which’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 eat. We organised a journey to Paris to clear our heads (after the Wolves loss), returned then went 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 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 actually great. It resembles one big family.’

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 ability to take on anyone. We are not scared. 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 may well be hearing ‘What’s Luv’ blasting out from the away dressing room.

FulhamAlex Iwobi