Latest news with #Iwobi
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alex Iwobi admits 'mad' Arsenal exit hurt as he reveals final Unai Emery conversation
Alex Iwobi has admitted he was hurt by the manner of his departure from Arsenal in 2019, a decision Unai Emery did not want the club to make at the time. The 29-year-old came through the academy at Arsenal and then established himself in the first-team in north London. His time at the club came to an end when he made a £34million move to Everton on deadline day in 2019, the same summer Arsenal signed Nicolas Pepe for a £72m fee. Speaking on The Inside Scoop podcast, Iwobi said: 'Three or two days before the transfer deadline day, my agent said Everton are interested. 'I said nice. He said 'what do you think?' I said 'I'm kind of comfortable at Arsenal.' But Arsenal have just signed Pepe for this amount. 'They said 'do you still want to stay?' I said 'Yeah, I don't mind'. I've had competition all my life like that's another winger. I'm going to respect him but I'm going to prove my point." However, while Iwobi was keen to try and prove himself under Emery, the club were keen to cash in on the Nigerian and pushed through a sale in the final hours of the window. Iwobi continued: 'Normally, you need a medical before you go. '[His agent] said, 'Arsenal have already handed in the medical, they might want you gone because they need to sell someone'. And they had players who weren't ready to go. But the easiest one and the biggest fee was me. So I was like, 'ah Arsenal want to get rid of me'.' Iwobi has since joined Fulham and has enjoyed the most productive season of his career to date this term, scoring nine goals in the Premier League. It has been a successful return to London for Iwobi, who revealed he did not get the chance to say goodbye to his Arsenal team-mates in 2019. Iwobi also detailed a conversation with then Arsenal boss Emery, with the Spaniard making it clear the sale was not his decision. Asked if he was hurt by the circumstances around his move to Everton, Iwobi said: 'Yeah a bit, at least let me decide for myself. 'I spoke to Unai Emery and he said 'look Alex, this is football, I didn't want you to go, I had you in my plans, you've always been someone willing to work for the team. I didn't want you to go but at the end of the day, this is business.' 'I said, 'there's no hard feelings, it's fine'. He spoke to me on a level, that's why I have respect for him. I've always had respect for him.'
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'I'm a Premier League star - Arsenal forced transfer and I couldn't say goodbye'
Arsenal academy graduate Alex Iwobi left the Emirates Stadium in 2019 in a big-money move to Everton and has now explained how the shock move to Goodison Park came about Alex Iwobi has revealed he was given no choice but to leave Arsenal with Gunners chiefs keen to move him on. The Nigerian winger departed the Emirates back in 2019 in a £34m move to Everton. The switch brought an end to Iwobi 's 15-year stint with Arsenal having graduated from the North London side's academy. But he has revealed that he wasn't particularly sold on a move to Goodison initially. Speaking on The Inside Scoop podcast, Iwobi said: 'Three or two days before the transfer deadline day, my agent said Everton are interested. I said nice. He said 'what do you think?' I said 'I'm kind of comfortable at Arsenal.' But Arsenal have just signed Pepe for this amount. 'They said 'do you still want to stay?' I said 'Yeah, I don't mind'. I've had competition all my life like that's another winger. I'm going to respect him but I'm going to prove my point." And while Iwobi wasn't too convinced on a switch to Merseyside, he soon realised that a return to Arsenal wasn't an option. The now 29-year-old has revealed that Arsenal pushed through a swift sale from their side, with Iwobi not even getting the chance to bid farewell to his boyhood club. He added: 'Normally, you need a medical before you go. He said 'Arsenal have already handed in the medical, they might want you gone because they need to sell someone'. And they had players who weren't ready to go. But the easiest one and the biggest fee was me. So I was like 'ah Arsenal want to let get of me'. 'And you have to sign something on transfer deadline day to make sure you get an extra hour added. I had to sign that, I was in my room signing everything and eventually, it goes through. 'So I've landed back from Dubai. I just had to go train. I didn't see anyone, collected my boots and go straight to Everton, didn't say bye to no one. It was mad. Fortunately for Iwobi, he still got an explanation from former boss Unai Emery. Asked if he was hurt by the nature of his departure, he said: 'Yeah a bit, at least let me decide for myself. 'It would have been nice to say bye but what was nice was I was staying in a hotel at the time and Arsenal must have played Liverpool. I come back from training and see the whole team having lunch. 'I spoke to Unai Emery and he said 'look Alex, this is football, I didn't want you to go, I had you in my plans, you've always been someone willing to work for the team. I didn't want you to go but at the end of the day, this is business.' I said there's no hard feelings, it's fine. He spoke to me on a level, that's why I have respect for him. I've always had respect for him.'
Times
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Alex Iwobi: I was slide-tackling my sister's dolls before I could walk
When Fulham run out at Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime, you may think, knowing it is his 29th birthday, you see a broader smile on the face of Alex Iwobi but, while he may be relieved to have missed the traditional training-ground birthday slapping, he will not be any happier than usual. 'I'll just see it as another day,' he says. 'I celebrate every day like it's my birthday. That's how I live my life.' It is a life that feels predestined. His uncle from his mother's side is the legend that is Jay-Jay Okocha, his father played to club level in Nigeria and so it is no surprise to learn that Iwobi was slide-tackling before he could walk properly. 'My sister's dolls, my action figures, balloons, even if it was a Coca-Cola can that's on the floor, instead of picking it up, I'd go and slide-tackle it,' he says. Does he ever see elements of his father and uncle in his own game? 'Not to diss my dad, but I don't think I am anything like my dad,' he smiles. 'Apparently my dad was just a runner.' He pauses. 'Then again, I can run. I feel like I got the stamina from him. His football ability was OK. My uncle was an attacking player, maybe more in a free role, which is what I do. And he always liked to express himself when he had the ball at his feet, which is what I see in myself.' Chuka Iwobi is famous for being seen out and about wearing replica kit bearing his son's name. 'Well, to be fair, any person who finds him a T-shirt his size, he'd wear it because I have a lot of friends that play football from childhood, so the other day he was wearing an Ola Aina [Iwobi's Nigeria team-mate] shirt. He likes to shop at M&S, no disrespect to M&S, but he'd rather wear a football shirt than his M&S clothes. 'My dad gets so much pleasure seeing other people do well, especially me and my sister. For example, my sister Marie started singing recently. She gave her first performance, and I could see how proud my mum and dad were, and I could see that they get more joy from us achieving than themselves. 'She likes to sing like she's Beyoncé. She thinks she's Beyoncé,' he grins, 'but to be fair, she's really talented.' If only there were a member of the Iwobi family who worked in the music industry. Step forward Iwobi, who is unusual among Premier League players for having a discography entry on his Wikipedia page, which lists two tracks, Don't Shoot and What's Luv? which he wrote as well as sings on. He has even performed in front of a live audience for a YouTube Champions League show. 'My sister did get on to me yesterday saying that we need to do something. I made songs with her for banter, but she said that we should release something soon, so I said, 'Yeah, don't worry, we'll work on something.' 'I will say it, I'm going to put pressure on myself, I'm going to say it's definitely going to happen.' Which will be music to the ears of Marco Silva, his manager, who recently said he would very much like his midfielder to pursue such interests. This is because word leaked out that Iwobi has been known in his spare time to play in five-a-side matches as a means of ensuring he does not forget the joy of a kick-about with mates. Naturally, he has to go in disguise. 'It's normally winter so it's cold and I can get away wearing a snood and a balaclava, everyone just normally sees the eyes and the mouth, but I get hot sometimes and obviously it's hard to hide my hair,' he says. 'I've got colourful hair [that he has been growing for eight years] so people do know me but when I'm in the moment playing, no one bothers me. 'The last time I probably went was November, but I remember stopping because the Christmas period in football gets hectic. I normally go there to just have fun and express myself, enjoy it, feel free because playing football can be stressful, especially when you're not going well. So that was my escapism, but at the same time I do get why people say don't go play five-a-side because it can get a bit dangerous, you might get injured but it kind of helped me stay sharp.' Did his managers at Arsenal, then Everton, know about his escapades? 'I think some managers knew,' he says. 'Most of the players knew because I had most of the players on my private chat and I told them, 'I'm going.' I just love playing with my friends, just the banter, feeling free, it makes me laugh. That's when I'm probably at my happiest. 'No one's ever said not to do it, they've always said be careful, because they know how much I enjoy it and I've never, touch wood, been injured from it.' And what does Silva think? 'I haven't been in a long while but obviously it's come out and he knows and he's asked me about it.' Did he ask him about it with a smile or a frown? 'There's a smile,' Iwobi says. 'I don't know what sort of smile it is but there's a smile.' But he can see why Silva might be worried? 'Of course, no coach wants their players to go and get injured outside of football. He just said, 'Did you go?' and I said, 'Yeah,' but I haven't been since November, December. 'I think it's probably safer I don't go during the season.' Iwobi was often given negative general feedback as he made his way through the Arsenal academy but made 149 appearances for the north London club before joining Everton in 2019. 'I think the turning point for me was after Afcon [in 2022]. I came back to Everton having a red card [against Tunisia] and they were saying you might have to go, and I thought, 'No, this is where I have to prove myself,' and I had a manager in Frank Lampard who gave me the opportunity to do so. Ever since then I've literally taken it on myself.' It helped that Silva, who signed Iwobi when at Goodison, wanted him when he took over at Fulham. 'He always says, 'There's a reason why I brought you back to Fulham,' ' Iwobi says, and the midfielder has been instrumental in the team's push for a European place this season. But the side have a tendency to outwit the bigger teams, drawing with and then defeating Liverpool, the champions, for example, only to drop points against those further down the table. 'We do talk about it among ourselves, like, why are we able to beat Liverpool and not get the three points against other teams? We try to figure it out,' he says. It takes a while to find something that Iwobi finds nerve-racking. He is not nervous when he plays, no matter the occasion, such as when he came off the bench in the Europa League final for Arsenal in 2019, and not when rapping in front of strangers. 'I really don't get nervous. I wish I did, because sometimes people say that it helps, but no, the singing was obviously a different sort of stage, a different sort of feeling, because when it's football you've got your team-mates to help you and it's what you can do with your feet, whereas on stage, you've got a mic in your hand. I was listening out for when do I start, my breathing technique, so there's a lot to focus on. And because it was my first time, it took a while to get used to. But I wasn't nervous, I was excited.' OK, would he jump out of a plane? 'Impossible,' he says. 'I'm afraid of heights. A lot of people know I'm afraid of heights. I went to Duck and Waffle [a restaurant in a 61-storey London skyscraper] the other day, and you have to go up a lift, and it's glass. I had to close my eyes. I'm afraid of heights. I just feel sick. That's the only time I feel uncomfortable.' He was not uncomfortable, exactly, when he arrived at Fulham two years ago to be given the No 22 shirt, even though he had set up Project 17 to handle his charity and music interests. 'I wouldn't say it was annoying because, at the end of the day, I was excited to have a new chapter in my life and move back to London,' he says. 'Obviously, Fulham's a great club. So I wasn't really focused on the number. At the end of the day, a number's a number. 'But I did speak to Bernd Leno saying, 'Next season, please can I have your No17?' 'When I moved into the first-team changing room [at Arsenal], they said you have to pick a number that's lower than 39, and the number that was available was 17. And ever since I've been 17. 'Project 17 is something that me and my close friends came up with. We all have nicknames and my nickname is 17 just because of football. When I was at Arsenal, they used to call me Big 17. So then it just became a thing with my friends when I go back to my area. 'Oh, 17, 17.' Instead of saying my full name because sometimes I like to be low key and they wouldn't want everyone to know it's Alex Iwobi and everyone turns around. 'So they would just say, '17, 17,' and it just became a habit. When I moved to Everton and we wanted to do charity stuff, my friend said the best name was Project 17. And that's how it came about.' He was moved most by helping out at a homeless shelter in Dagenham at Christmas giving out food and clothing. 'When people come up to me and they say, 'Oh you don't understand how much this means,' and they're just almost breaking down into tears, that's proper sweet, that's emotional. I need to do more things like that.'
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fulham 1-2 Chelsea: Blues secure huge comeback win
Chelsea trailed for most of the game at Fulham on Sunday but Enzo Maresca's side struck twice late on to turn things around and secured a huge win in their quest for Champions League qualification. MORE — Watch full match replay Advertisement Alex Iwobi put Fulham deservedly ahead in the first half and they were the better team. But in the second half Chelsea improved and Tyrique George jumped off the bench to score his first Premier League goal, then Pedro Neto smashes home a beauty in stoppage time to send Maresca and everyone connected with Chelsea wild. Chelsea now move into fifth place on 57 points, while Fulham remain on 48 points. Fulham vs Chelsea score: 1-2 Iwobi 21'; George 84', Neto 90+3' Neto smashes home! — Fulham 1-2 Chelsea Incredible strike from Neto. He rifles home and Chelsea go wild. What a comeback this is! Youngster George scores a huge goal! — Fulham 1-1 Chelsea The teenage substitute scores his first Premier League goal, as Tyrique George smashes home a loose ball from the edge of the box. He's only been on for a few minutes and that is a massive goal. Chelsea should make it 1-1 That is a huge chance for Chelsea. The ball is kept in by Jackson and played back to Neto. He has the whole goal to aim at but hits it straight at Leno who saves and then gathers the loose ball. Half time: Fulham 1-0 Chelsea Fulham's lead is a fair reflection of that first half. They forced the issue, created chances and Iwobi took his goal well, while Chelsea barely had a sniff in attack and Cole Palmer and Co., have to seriously up things in the second half if the Blues are going to get anything from this. Chelsea have barely created a chance This is a very worrying display from Chelsea. Maresca's side have seen plenty of the ball but they are yet to carve out a proper chance. Iwobi puts Fulham ahead! — Fulham 1-0 Chelsea Sessegnon plays it in to Iwobi in the box and he takes a touch and drills a lovely low finish across goal. Fulham deservedly lead. Fulham have the ball in the back of the net but it's offside The Cottagers have started brightly and a shot is fired to the back post, and is eventually in the back of the net. A couple of players looked to be offside but this is a good start for Fulham. Fulham lineup Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Sessegnon, Pereira, Iwobi; Jimenez Chelsea lineup Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Jackson Fulham team news, focus It's all about finding the right combinations in attack for Fulham as Jimenez, Willian, Traore and Smith Rowe all started on the bench in the defeat at Bournemouth. All four could come back in as Silva has perhaps been guilty of tinkering a little too much in recent weeks. Advertisement OUT: Reiss Nelson (hamstring) Chelsea team news, focus The Blues really need Palmer, Jackson and Madueke to regain their early-season form in attack, while forgotten man Jadon Sancho scored a beauty against Ipswich last time out and could be pushing for a start. OUT: Wesley Fofana (thigh - out for season), Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension), Omari Kellyman (hamstring - out for season), Marc Guiu (thigh) Fulham vs Chelsea prediction This feels like it will be a tight, intense encounter and that suits Fulham more. Expect a big home win. Fulham 3-1 Chelsea. Fulham vs Chelsea preview Marco Silva's Fulham lost 1-0 at Bournemouth on Monday as they dominated periods of the game but slipped up in their chase for European qualification. With six games to go the Cottagers are still right in the mix to reach Europe which would be a brilliant achievement this season. Sidenote: if Fulham beat Chelsea they will be just three points behind their esteemed neigbors. Advertisement Chelsea slipped up last weekend in the Premier League, drawing 2-2 at home to struggling Ipswich and they were 2-0 down. Maresca has come under serious pressure for his playing style in recent weeks and he's had a pop back at the Chelsea fans as things are starting to unravel. Chelsea are still in the hunt for Champions League qualification but a run of one win in their last four games has put that in jeopardy. How to watch Fulham vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time Kick off time: 9am ET Sunday (April 20) Venue: Craven Cottage — London TV Channel: USA Streaming: Watch live on
The Independent
20-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Champions League dream still alive for Chelsea after Pedro Neto heroics
Pedro Neto fired a spectacular winner in stoppage time as Chelsea 's late show secured a 2-1 win over west-London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage. Substitute Tyrique George grabbed an equaliser seven minutes from time to cancel out Alex Iwobi 's 20th-minute strike. Then Neto's half-volley clinched a victory that took the Blues above Forest on goal difference in the battle to secure Champions League football. The result will alleviate some of the pressure on under-fire manager Enzo Maresca. Raul Jimenez dominating Chelsea's Levi Colwill in the air was a common theme early on as Fulham mounted pressure. Then Chelsea skipper Reece James was caught in possession by Fulham's press and, after Ryan Sessegnon drove forward, his pass to Iwobi saw the Nigeria international use his weaker left foot to find the bottom left corner from the edge of the area. Chelsea's lack of confidence was clear to see but they did create a handful of chances which a striker in a better form than nine-goal man Nicolas Jackson could have converted. The first came a minute before Iwobi's strike when Noni Madueke's ball across the box was touched by Jackson into the hands of Bernd Leno. The Senegal striker was then caught on his heels in the area despite an inch-perfect delivery from Neto. Maresca turned to the bench at half-time with Jadon Sancho coming on for Madueke but the changes initially failed to spark his side into life. A speculative effort by another substitute Malo Gusto was all the Blues truly had to show for themselves by the hour mark. Fulham on the other hand remained strong and resolute. The physical prowess of Sander Berge and Calvin Bassey snapped up loose balls against Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer as they gave their rivals little or no space to attack in behind their deep block. Manager Marco Silva brought on Harry Wilson late on to inject energy but it was 19-year-old Chelsea substitute George who made the impact. The teenager connected with a half-volley on the edge of the area to open his league account in the 83rd minute to get Chelsea back into the match. Chelsea had momentum now. They needed something special though to snatch a comeback win. It came three minutes into added time from big money summer signing Neto, who spun on the half turn and leathered in a winner to send the away end into raptures.
