Latest news with #AlexIwobi
The Guardian
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Alex Iwobi: ‘I give 100% in my football but I like to have fun off the pitch as well'
Forget the numerous occasions when Alex Iwobi has played at the Emirates Stadium, Goodison Park and Craven Cottage, or even when he faced Ivory Coast in Abidjan in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final. The most nervous he has been was in Dubai this summer – and not when the dog-loving Fulham midfielder headed out for a walk with a lion, which he did in June at a local zoo. It was a request from Ramz, the British rapper Iwobi has collaborated with on Hop Out, the latest single the Nigeria international has released under his pseudonym 17, to join him on stage for a live performance that really struck fear into him. 'I thought: 'I'm not sure yet. I'm just not sure yet,'' Iwobi says. 'But maybe in the near future I might start. I've done one live performance which felt a bit weird – there was a live band playing the drums and I had to literally use it as an instrument, which felt crazy, but I enjoyed it. It's all about timing …' This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. On the evidence of Iwobi's appearance on Uefa's Champions League Off Pitch show on YouTube that was recorded in April when Hop Out was released, he could be on to something. It has been some time since footballers releasing singles was a semi-regular occurrence – think Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle's duet on Diamond Lights in 1987 or Ian Wright's Do the Right Thing in 1993. But music is in the blood for Iwobi, who started out freestyling on the back of the bus on his way to school in Essex, progressed to his own studio at home, and whose uncle Jay-Jay Okocha, the Bolton and Nigeria legend, released a 1994 single I I Am Am J J. 'Looking at them, especially Ian Wright, he literally did whatever he wanted,' Iwobi says. 'He expressed himself, gave 100% in football, but also enjoyed his life. So I would also use him as a role model that I still give 100% in my football. But I like to have fun on the pitch as well as off the pitch, so that's my way with music, with fashion, with charity stuff. There's a lot of things I do just to … I wouldn't say get distracted, but just, like, have a moment or just to breathe.' Iwobi visited Paris fashion week on his summer holidays and was interviewed about his 'dog-fit' outfit for walking his two four-year-old huskies – 'it's the clothes I wear and I don't mind them just getting dog hair; when I'm with my dogs, literally I turn into a husky all the time' – but football remains his main passion. He is speaking a few days after his team, also featuring Nottingham Forest's Callum Hudson-Odoi, were beaten in a penalty shootout at his annual Project 17 tournament, which teamed up with the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) to raise money and awareness about the severe shortage of donors in the black community. He says he has recovered from the disappointment of not making the final and suggests there may have been 'bit of cheating' from Tyrique Hyde, a former Love Island contestant and semi-professional player who is one of Iwobi's best friends from childhood. 'I said I was not going to leave my tournament, or leave the stadium, until we win,' Iwobi says with a laugh. 'Unfortunately I had to get escorted off because we did not win. It doesn't matter – well, it kind of does matter who wins, but I'm telling myself it doesn't! Using my football platform, we also brought ACLT to educate and teach people about people that are going through blood problems or stem cell problems. You never know who's going through it so it's just nice to educate people about that as well.' Such is Iwobi's love for the game that during a spell at Everton when he wasn't playing he donned a balaclava to hide his trademark dreadlocks so he could join his friends in a five-a-side game in Manchester. 'The sort of hair I have, I wouldn't want it to cause another story. It just shows that I really do enjoy playing football, especially with my friends. Inside it would be frustrating because everyone just wants to play football. When you're not going to get an opportunity to play football I just took it as like: 'Well, I need to showcase and improve and show that I have the ability to be starting, to be playing.'' Iwobi, who joined Fulham in September 2023, has just enjoyed his best campaign, as he referenced in his only live musical performance with the line: 'Comments on the tweets saying 'stay focused' and 'stick to the ball' but look at this season, check out the stats, drop a couple tunes and the footie's on track.' He registered nine goals and six assists as the club picked up a record 54 points, but Marco Silva's side still finished outside the top 10 and he believes a tight-knit group who socialise regularly off the pitch are capable of more. 'We were so close to achieving a European spot so it's another ambition that we want to fulfil,' he says. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion As for his own ambitions, Iwobi has surpassed Mikel John Obi's record for Premier League appearances by a Nigerian and is hoping to emulate his famous uncle by winning the Afcon, even if the new mid-December start for this year's tournament in Morocco may disrupt things at home. 'It's not nice for us [to have to choose],' he says. 'But with all due respect to Fulham I would like to go to the Afcon.' In another of his songs from 2024, What's Luv?, Iwobi references the number of properties he owns as 27, although he says 'the portfolio has gone up' thanks to advice from Okocha when he broke into Arsenal's first team as a teenager. 'He showed my dad the blueprint and ever since I signed my first professional contract, almost all my investments go into properties, and my dad manages that for me,' he says. 'Obviously, football is a short career. I wouldn't want anyone going bankrupt easily or immediately after football. I'm just grateful that I had my parents and my uncle to guide me and tell me what's best for my future as well as the life I'm living currently.' With his 30th birthday coming in May, Iwobi knows time is of the essence. He remembers what it was like to be the next emerging star at Arsenal's academy with a famous relative and has no regrets about the way things have turned out. 'I'm so blessed and I'm so happy to be in the position I am today,' he says. 'I'm obviously grateful to Arsenal because they always produce youngsters. I saw Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri during the off-season and you wouldn't think that they're 18 – they're both very mature and carry themselves really well. 'No matter what age you are, I feel like you have to give 100%. But yeah, I am kicking on. I'm going to be 30 next season. So I'm no longer a young kid but hopefully next season I'll make another big statement.'
Daily Mirror
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Premier League star reveals club has banned him from behind the scenes filming
Players are set to be banned from using Snapchat in the dressing room at Fulham according to Alex Iwobi, who says he is at risk of being fined for posting behind the scenes clips Fulham star Alex Iwobi has said that he is no longer allowed to post behind the scenes content on his social media channels following a warning from club officials that he will be fined. The former Arsenal forward has garnered a big following on Snapchat thanks to regular glimpses of what life is like for a footballer. It is unclear what specific content has prompted the Cottagers to inform him that he is no longer allowed to share footage of what happens off the pitch and in the dressing room. But there had been unconfirmed speculation from some fans that he had accidentally leaked that captain Tom Cairney had signed a new one-year contract before the club had officially confirmed it. But Iwobi, in a video clip recorded from his car, set his story straight while apologising to his fans. In the post, captioned 'No more Fulham dressing room snaps, sorry my peoples', the Nigeria international said: "For those that have been wondering why I haven't been snapping BTS in the changing room, there's one person in the media team that has been saying I haven't been capturing the right stuff. "So there's no more BTS. They also said I might get fined if I continue to do so. They are trying to ban Snap in our changing room, so yeah that's why I haven't been snapping BTS. "It's a shame man, I know you guys enjoy seeing what my team mates are like behind the scenes but I have to respect the rules." Marco Silva's side are set to face Nottingham Forest in a pre-season friendly behind closed doors in Faro, Portugal, on Saturday before fixtures against Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ittihad and Germany's Eintracht Frankfurt. They kick off their Premier League campaign with a visit to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday August 16 at 3pm. Fulham finished 11th last season with Iwobi scoring nine goals and providing six assists.
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How Alex Iwobi is embracing being more than just a footballer - as Fulham star explains why he spent the off-season walking with Lions in Dubai
For Alex Iwobi, the mantra of being more than a footballer is evident in his everyday life through his wide range of passions be it music or fashion or charity, yet above all it is his love for the game that rises above everything else. When we speak, Iwobi is in the middle of his time off, which has involved plenty of travelling including walking with lions in Dubai and a trip to Paris Fashion Week and of course, the odd Powerleague session back at home in London. 'I love playing fives with my boys. When you play with friends, it brings that element of when you were young and having all that fun with football back,' Iwobi tells Mail Sport. 'When I go back to my area, I play with my mates who I've known for years. They give me a fake name like John just so we can enjoy the football - other professional players go too but I'm not sure if they want me to say. 'My mates are all very competitive, but they won't put in a dirty challenge. Sometimes I go past a player really easily and I'm like "Come on man, you're being a bit safe" but at the same time, I don't go into any reckless challenges as well.' For the fourth summer in a row, the Fulham midfielder has combined football with his constant pursuit of giving back through the Project 17 Cup - which aims to inspire young players and raise awareness for a specific cause. This year, the focus is on sickle cell disease in association with ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust), a life-saving charity working to increase the number of black blood, stem cell and organ donors. 'Me and my team decided to do it. We're trying to raise as much awareness for people who have sickle cell and give back to ACLT,' Iwobi says. 'It's something that we try to do - giving back to different charities every year. Sickle cell disease affected one of the people close to Project 17 so we decided to go with it,' the 29-year-old adds. When we last spoke in December, it was the week when Iwobi and Fulham drew with Liverpool at Anfield and the following day, he was back in London feeding 100 families for Christmas as part of Project 17 through an initiative called AleXpress. 'With the position I am in, I feel like it's only right with the influence I have that I give back as well,' he told Mail Sport then. Fulham were in the middle of an eight-game unbeaten run then and with genuine hopes of European football before they eventually finished 11th - a third mid-table finish in a row since getting promoted with Marco Silva in 2022. With 54 points last season, it was also the highest that Fulham have accumulated in the Premier League. For Iwobi, whose current deal runs till 2028, it is very much a case of feeling at home. 'We're not team-mates, we're all like brothers because we do so much together,' he says. 'I'm very comfortable here and I want to achieve more, like getting Fulham into Europe.' So what can we expect this season then? 'More commitment, more desire, more vibes,' he says, while sitting in his Odell Beckham jersey. 'I put 100 percent in last season so this year will be 110 per cent.' Before we finish, there is one more thing I have to ask about. Scroll down his Instagram and there is a video captioned 'Evening Walks' from earlier in the summer. Open it and it is Iwobi walking with a lion. 'I was in Dubai with my friends and we just wanted to do activities. Someone recommended a zoo so we went and once the staff realised I was there, they got a bit more hospitable. Anyway, Ashton Hall was there walking the tiger so they asked me if I wanted to walk the lion. I actually wasn't scared,' Iwobi says. 'But the only thing I'm scared of is heights.' With Fulham wanting to scale new heights and Nigeria wanting to win the Africa Cup of Nations this winter, after coming runners-up in 2023, that's a fear he'll have to overcome.
New York Times
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Alex Iwobi: Music-maker, Snapchat joker and a Premier League performer from Arsenal to Fulham
What you see is what you get with Alex Iwobi. Whether it's his flair in matches or the laughs generated by his Snapchat stories, the Fulham and Nigeria midfielder always comes across as genuine. That is why Iwobi lying back on his sofa for most of this interview is no issue. He's relaxed, happy to amble down memory lane and discuss more recent ventures as if he were catching up with a friend. And there is a lot to catch up on. The 29-year-old has made public his passion for music, beaten a childhood friend in the 'Snapchat derby', and tried to impart the wisdom of Premier League greats Arsene Wenger and Frank Lampard onto the next generation. Advertisement Project 17, a passion project he set up in 2021, has helped improve that connection with the next wave of talent growing up in London. This is the fourth summer it has hosted football tournaments, The P17 Cup, with the joint purpose of inspiring young players and raising awareness for a specific cause. This year, Project 17 focused on educating people about the effects of sickle cell disease and the importance of Black people making blood donations. 'We're working with a life-saving charity called ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust) to help raise awareness for people who have sickle cell,' Iwobi tells The Athletic. 'One of my team has someone close to home who may be affected by it, so we decided to go along with his idea and push through. Not just for him but to raise awareness for other people going through this, to help reduce it and find treatments for them.' People with sickle cell disease produce misshapen red blood cells that can block blood flow to the rest of the body. Many studies, including one published in America's National Library of Medicine, have found that Black people are at a much higher risk of being affected by sickle cell disease. Players and spectators at the P17 Cup had the opportunity to sign up to make donations on a day when Iwobi's energy shone through. He walked the two teams who reached the under-12 final onto the pitch and presented the winners with the trophy as his father, Chuka, took the mic — something Alex often does himself. Going by the stage name 17, his squad number at Arsenal, Everton and Fulham, Iwobi dropped his first song publicly last summer. Don't Shoot featured fellow Arsenal academy graduate and east Londoner Chuba Akpom, but music has been an integral part of Iwobi's life since he was a teenager. 'I've been doing music since secondary school,' Iwobi says. 'I made a song when I was 13 with a guy on my road. I have a studio at my house, so whenever I have free time, I go to my studio and just lay off what's on my mind. But in the past two years, my boy said, 'Why don't you release it?', and I thought, 'Why not?'.' Part of the initial hesitation around releasing his music was about timing. The midfielder did not want to give the appearance of being distracted from football, particularly when he was fighting relegation with Everton. He believes his consistently excellent displays at Fulham this season contributed to the music being received positively, even if that has led to some unexpected encounters. 'I went to Turks and Caicos with my boys and one random kid started singing one of my songs,' he says. 'I was like, 'Wow, I'm doing all right with music'. I mentioned Declan Rice in a song and he (Rice) loves it. He sent me videos of him listening to the song on holiday.' In 2023, a masked rapper called Dide went viral for claiming to be a Premier League footballer. Asked why, in contrast, he was happy to take ownership of his music, Iwobi says: 'A few footballers had already done it — Memphis Depay and Rafael Leao, for example. I didn't want to hide my identity. If I'm going to do something, I want people to know it's me.' Advertisement Iwobi has happily showcased his personality in podcasts and he is becoming more noticed for his Snapchat profile, too. For over a decade, Iwobi has been posting public photos on the social media platform when going out with friends or playing football at his local Goals, centres where you can rent pitches to play five-a-side. Last season, he took to posting funny behind-the-scenes moments in the Fulham dressing room. Nottingham Forest's Ola Aina did similar, providing a glimpse of the vibes whether after big wins or at breakfast. 'Then it became a Snapchat derby,' Iwobi says, as both his and Aina's followers eagerly anticipated the scenes after their teams met. 'Especially because me and Ola grew up together. We went to the same school and grew up on the same road. 'I'm just happy we beat Forest home and away. Ola messaged me saying, 'Alex, don't even entertain or mention my name'. I was like, 'Bro, don't worry, I'll spare you, but I'll let you know we won'.' Compared to the NBA or NFL, it is rare to see a footballer as open and personable as Iwobi. Part of that may be down to the culture of football being more serious, but Iwobi's need to express himself has been welcomed by the managers who have understood him best. 'Normally, that's when I'm playing my best football,' he says. 'Especially last season. Marco Silva told me: 'Just go and express yourself. You seem like a cool guy off the pitch. When you're happy, it helps with your football. Just keep doing that'.' Lampard, the former Chelsea midfielder and Everton manager, recognised the importance of giving Iwobi that freedom on the pitch, too. In January 2022, Rafa Benitez had just been sacked and Iwobi returned to Merseyside after receiving a red card in Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) round-of-16 defeat against Tunisia. He was informed that Lampard would be taking charge, but that the club would like him to go out on loan. Having broken straight through to Arsenal's first team from the academy, loans had never been part of Iwobi's agenda. Advertisement 'I had nothing to lose,' he recalls. 'Lampard's been appointed and I've come in to train. I've always been a good trainer, but in training, I like to drift (on the pitch). Especially when you're not on the starting team, you can express yourself a bit more. 'Then Joe Edwards, one of his coaching staff, said: 'Alex, why don't you play like this in matches?'. I said: 'Normally, recent managers have just wanted me to set the ball or make runs in behind as a winger because they just think I'm fast.' 'They said, 'We're going to experiment and put you in midfield. Have you played there before?'. I told them that's where I used to play in the academy, as a No 8 and a No 10. We played against West Ham and apart from one mistake, I played really well in that game and they continued with it.' Lampard's instructions were to 'play your game, your ability is different to what I had'. Previous coaches had used Iwobi as a touchline winger, and sometimes as a wing-back, but Iwobi was back to linking play like he once had at Arsenal. He has continued to prosper since moving to Fulham, where he has been prized for his versatility and quality on the ball. The 2024-25 season was Iwobi's most productive Premier League campaign in front of goal as he scored nine and assisted six (15 goal contributions). His previous best returns came in his final seasons at Arsenal and Everton, registering nine goal contributions in each. Fulham have also provided a nice return to Iwobi's Arsenal roots, with fellow academy graduates Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson joining the club last season. Nelson has returned to Arsenal after his loan spell ended, but Smith Rowe kept his former team-mate guessing on whether he would be making a transfer to south-west London. 'I heard so many rumours,' Iwobi says. 'I asked him: 'Yo, are you joining Fulham?', and he goes, 'I don't know, I don't know'. When he finally came, I was like: 'My guy is here'. I assisted his first professional goal for Arsenal, so I've seen his ability. I know how good Emile is. He's such a great player. He has been unfortunate that his injuries have set him back. But once Emile is fit, he's one of the best young talents in England.' Advertisement In April, Iwobi and Smith Rowe returned to the Emirates for a match steeped in Hale End subplots, with Bukayo Saka making his return from a three-month hamstring injury. Saka entered the pitch as Smith Rowe departed, with both afforded standing ovations as they high-fived each other. It was a special moment, even before Saka scored Arsenal's crucial second goal. Iwobi, who replaced Smith Rowe, couldn't help but be caught up even if he was trying to earn Fulham points. 'Bukayo jogged past Calvin Bassey and me to warm up and the whole crowd cheered,' he says. 'I joined in on the sly because it was nice for him to be back. Bukayo jumped on the pitch and scored. We were thinking, 'Damn'. He even tried to nutmeg me in the game. I was like, 'Bro, you can't be doing that to me'.' Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, Arsenal's next generation of academy stars, started that match. Iwobi's father often speaks to Lewis-Skelly's mother, Marcia, to offer his experience on how to prepare for the future. When the Fulham midfielder crossed paths with Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, his advice to the teenagers was to 'keep doing you, there's a reason you're playing so early, just keep on enjoying your football'. The conversation drew parallels to those he had with Wenger a decade ago. The chats tended to come after training sessions and, rather than being overloaded with information, Iwobi remembers the value of the Frenchman's wisdom. 'He'd advise me on how I should put my body in certain positions to receive the ball or how I should take my touch on my left or my right foot,' he says. 'Before my first Champions League start — against Barcelona at Camp Nou — I didn't think I would be in the line-up. He just said to me: 'Be ready. When the time comes, play the way you've been training. Get on the ball, be brave, be courageous and express yourself'.' That was 10 seasons ago but that desire from coaches for Iwobi to continue expressing himself has been consistent. It has helped him forge one of the most impressive careers of any Arsenal academy graduate to have left the club in recent history. Iwobi has 291 Premier League appearances to his name, putting him on track to beat Shola Ameobi's tally of 298 early next season. His aims for the upcoming campaign are quite simple. After helping Fulham achieve their best top-flight points tally in 2024-25 (54), he is hoping to take them to European qualification. December also sees the return of AFCON and, after reaching the final in 2023, he wants to lift the trophy with Nigeria. As far as off-pitch ventures go, Iwobi hasn't thought too deeply about what is next. He wants to work with more big music artists, but insists he's living in the moment. 'There will be more things coming,' he adds, 'but it'll be a surprise to me and to everyone else.'
Scottish Sun
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Fulham plot shock transfer swoop to beat Man Utd to 6ft 4in striker Tolu Arokodare who was top-scorer in Belgium
FULHAM are plotting a summer move for Genk's star striker Tolu Arokodare as they look to bolster their attacking options ahead of next season. The Nigerian forward, who was in scintillating form last season, finished as the top scorer in the Belgian Pro League with an impressive 17 league goals and 23 in total across all competitions. Advertisement 3 Tolu Arokodare is the highest goalscorer in the Belgian top flight Credit: AFP 3 Fulham boss Marco Silva is determined to add a striker to his squad Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Standing at 6'4'', Arokodare is a towering presence in the box and possesses the pace and finishing ability to trouble any defence. His brilliant performances have not gone unnoticed with Manchester United and AC Milan also monitoring the 24-year-old's progress. Ruben Amorim's side are keen on signing Viktor Gyokeres but reports suggest Arokodare, considered a rising star in European football, is also on their radar. Sources close to the player have revealed to SunSport that Arokodare is eager to secure a move to the Premier League. Advertisement READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS STRIPPIER Blonde who partied with Trippier before he announced wife split is OnlyFans model Fulham have already held exploratory talks with the striker's entourage following his recent switch of agency, a move aimed at facilitating a transfer to England. The Cottagers boast a growing contingent of Nigerian players, with Arokodare understood to share a strong bond with compatriots Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey. Arokodare's powerful displays in Belgium have made him one of Europe's most sought-after young strikers. Fulham are determined to add firepower to their squad after a mixed Premier League campaign. Advertisement BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 3 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW Manager Marco Silva is believed to be a huge admirer of Arokodare's physicality and clinical finishing and sees him as an ideal fit for Fulham's style of play. Advertisement The striker is valued at around £15million. Alex Iwobi tells SunSport about having Jay-Jay Okocha as uncle, who wins Premier League Royal Rumble and work of his charity Project 17 Given his exploits in the Belgian league he could prove to be a major coup for Fulham if he can replicate that form in the Premier League. Last season, Fulham finished 10th but goals were hard to come by. Raul Jimenez was the only player to reach double digits, scoring 12 goals, with Alex Iwobi contributing nine. Advertisement One of the key areas the club is looking to strengthen is goal output. They hope to bring in players capable of reaching double figures in the Premier League as they aim to solidify their top-flight status and push for the increasingly competitive European spots now available to English clubs.
