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 actually 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 father’s 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 thought let’s do something various that no one else has. I literally informed the hair stylist to ‘express yourself’ but not too wild. It’s wild due to the fact that it’s red and purple at the moment however I like it. My dad’s accepted it now so I’m simple.’

It’s a stark contrast from the short-haired 19-year-old who made his Arsenal launching under Arsene Wenger in 2015.

Iwobi firmly 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 recently, going to Paris Fashion Week, releasing singles and launching his charitable structure, Project 17.

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

Alexi Iwobi has actually made his best start to a Premier League season with 5 objectives in 15 matches

The 28-year-old says his multi-coloured braids have actually added to his on-pitch enhancement

It’s a plain contrast from the short-haired teen 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 hometown, where everything will be complimentary in a regional grocery store.

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

‘In your house I was raised in, my daddy naturally just gave back. To people 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 daddy are has inspired me to offer to others, whether they are fortunate or less fortunate. With the position I am in, I feel like it’s only best with the influence I have that I offer back too.’

Through these initiatives off the pitch, Iwobi thinks is the secret to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has currently scored more objectives than in any other season, with 5 in the league for a Fulham side that is just two points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.

‘As a child you want to do your best to impress the manager and desire everyone to understand you are fully concentrated on football. But it (liberty) comes with age, being free and not being pushed about unfavorable comments. If it’s positive, you do not mind the criticism,’ he says.

‘You need to be strong psychologically. Players succeed when they’re positive and with me, feeling great to express myself on and off the pitch, I nearly feel unstoppable. And when you have individuals that back you, it really 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 chance to bring him back to London on Deadline Day in 2015. After his brace against Brighton last week, Silva said it was Iwobi’s ‘best season in the Premier League so far’ and he concurs.

The 28-year-old will feed 100 households 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 became the very first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his debut tune ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November released a Luv?’

‘I have actually been associated with 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 need to keep it going and make certain it’s my best season. That’s the aim’ states Iwobi, who credits Silva for giving him ‘the license to express’ himself. ‘It’s nice to have a supervisor who gives you the confidence to do that,’ he says.

Earlier this year, Iwobi became the first Premier League footballer to release a single with his launching 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 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 because 2003-04.

‘I don’t get it on in the dressing space but when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he just can’t assist himself, Iwobi reveals.

‘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 said it wasn’t bad. I know the very first time he didn’t understand what was stated however he took pleasure in the beat. So it’s a win-win.

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

Silva’s strategy at Everton was to build 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 camouflage to enjoy his football again. Now that delight has actually been uncovered after his ₤ 22M relocation last year.

‘Everyone’s state of mind is one for all and all for one so that’s absolutely 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 eliminated as Fulham take on league leaders Liverpool at Anfield

‘Even when Sander (Berge) and Joa (Andersen) signed, they took us out to consume. We arranged a journey 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 team meal is arranged for midweek ahead of a run of 3 games in 7 days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer wishes to take us out. That’s another little totally free food so I’m not complaining,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s really nice. It resembles one huge household.’

But initially, Fulham will head to Anfield with belief, having actually taken points from Arsenal last week 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 complete with anybody. We are not frightened. Hopefully it will be the exact same versus Liverpool. We are going there to get an outcome,’ Iwobi insists.

Get something at Anfield and Arne Slot’s league-leaders may well be hearing ‘What’s Luv’ blasting out from the away dressing space.

FulhamAlex Iwobi