Alex Iwobi: ‘i Give 100% In My Football But I Like To Have Fun Off The Pitch As Well’

Forget nan galore occasions erstwhile Alex Iwobi has played astatine nan Emirates Stadium, Goodison Park and Craven Cottage, aliases moreover erstwhile he faced Ivory Coast successful Abidjan successful nan 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final. The astir tense he has been was successful Dubai this summertime – and not erstwhile nan dog-loving Fulham midfielder headed retired for a locomotion pinch a lion, which he did successful June astatine a section zoo. It was a petition from Ramz, nan British rapper Iwobi has collaborated pinch connected Hop Out, nan latest azygous nan Nigeria world has released nether his pseudonym 17, to subordinate him connected shape for a unrecorded capacity that really struck fearfulness into him.

“I thought: ‘I’m not judge yet. I’m conscionable not judge yet,’” Iwobi says. “But possibly successful nan adjacent early I mightiness start. I’ve done 1 unrecorded capacity which felt a spot weird – location was a unrecorded set playing nan drums and I had to virtually usage it arsenic an instrument, which felt crazy, but I enjoyed it. It’s each astir timing …”

On nan grounds of Iwobi’s appearance connected Uefa’s Champions League Off Pitch show connected YouTube that was recorded successful April erstwhile Hop Out was released, he could beryllium connected to something. It has been immoderate clip since footballers releasing singles was a semi-regular occurrence – deliberation Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle’s duet connected Diamond Lights successful 1987 aliases Ian Wright’s Do nan Right Thing successful 1993. But euphony is successful nan humor for Iwobi, who started retired freestyling connected nan backmost of nan autobus connected his measurement to schoolhouse successful Essex, progressed to his ain workplace astatine home, and whose uncle Jay-Jay Okocha, nan Bolton and Nigeria legend, released a 1994 azygous I I Am Am J J.

“Looking astatine them, particularly Ian Wright, he virtually did immoderate he wanted,” Iwobi says. “He expressed himself, gave 100% successful football, but besides enjoyed his life. So I would besides usage him arsenic a domiciled exemplary that I still springiness 100% successful my football. But I for illustration to person nosy connected nan transportation arsenic good arsenic disconnected nan pitch, truthful that’s my measurement pinch music, pinch fashion, pinch kindness stuff. There’s a batch of things I do conscionable to … I wouldn’t opportunity get distracted, but just, like, person a infinitesimal aliases conscionable to breathe.”

Iwobi visited Paris manner week connected his summertime holidays and was interviewed astir his “dog-fit” outfit for stepping his 2 four-year-old huskies – “it’s nan apparel I deterioration and I don’t mind them conscionable getting canine hair; erstwhile I’m pinch my dogs, virtually I move into a husky each nan time” – but shot remains his main passion.

He is speaking a fewer days aft his team, besides featuring Nottingham Forest’s Callum Hudson-Odoi, were beaten successful a punishment shootout astatine his yearly Project 17 tournament, which teamed up pinch nan African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) to raise money and consciousness astir nan terrible shortage of donors successful nan achromatic community. He says he has recovered from nan disappointment of not making nan last and suggests location whitethorn person been “bit of cheating” from Tyrique Hyde, a erstwhile Love Island contestant and semi-professional subordinate who is 1 of Iwobi’s champion friends from childhood.

“I said I was not going to time off my tournament, aliases time off nan stadium, until we win,” Iwobi says pinch a laugh. “Unfortunately I had to get escorted disconnected because we did not win. It doesn’t matter – well, it benignant of does matter who wins, but I’m telling myself it doesn’t! Using my shot platform, we besides brought ACLT to amended and thatch group astir group that are going done humor problems aliases stem compartment problems. You ne'er cognize who’s going done it truthful it’s conscionable bully to amended group astir that arsenic well.”

Such is Iwobi’s emotion for nan crippled that during a spell astatine Everton erstwhile he wasn’t playing he donned a balaclava to hide his trademark dreadlocks truthful he could subordinate his friends successful a five-a-side crippled successful Manchester. “The benignant of hairsbreadth I have, I wouldn’t want it to origin different story. It conscionable shows that I really do bask playing football, particularly pinch my friends. Inside it would beryllium frustrating because everyone conscionable wants to play football. When you’re not going to get an opportunity to play shot I conscionable took it arsenic like: ‘Well, I request to showcase and amended and show that I person nan expertise to beryllium starting, to beryllium playing.’”

Alex Iwobi playing astatine Craven Cottage successful November 2024. Photograph: Sportimage Ltd/Alamy

Iwobi, who joined Fulham successful September 2023, has conscionable enjoyed his champion campaign, arsenic he referenced successful his only unrecorded philharmonic capacity pinch nan line: “Comments connected nan tweets saying ‘stay focused’ and ‘stick to nan ball’ but look astatine this season, cheque retired nan stats, driblet a mates tunes and nan footie’s connected track.”

He registered 9 goals and six assists arsenic nan nine picked up a grounds 54 points, but Marco Silva’s broadside still vanished extracurricular nan apical 10 and he believes a tight-knit group who socialise regularly disconnected nan transportation are tin of more. “We were truthful adjacent to achieving a European spot truthful it’s different ambition that we want to fulfil,” he says.

As for his ain ambitions, Iwobi has surpassed Mikel John Obi’s grounds for Premier League appearances by a Nigerian and is hoping to emulate his celebrated uncle by winning nan Afcon, moreover if nan caller mid-December commencement for this year’s tourney successful Morocco whitethorn disrupt things astatine home. “It’s not bully for america [to person to choose],” he says. “But pinch each owed respect to Fulham I would for illustration to spell to nan Afcon.”

In different of his songs from 2024, What’s Luv?, Iwobi references nan number of properties he owns arsenic 27, though he says “the portfolio has gone up” acknowledgment to proposal from Okocha erstwhile he collapsed into Arsenal’s first squad arsenic a teenager. “He showed my dada nan blueprint and ever since I signed my first master contract, almost each my investments spell into properties, and my dada manages that for me,” he says.

“Obviously, shot is simply a short career. I wouldn’t want anyone going bankrupt easy aliases instantly aft football. I’m conscionable grateful that I had my parents and my uncle to guideline maine and show maine what’s champion for my early arsenic good arsenic nan life I’m surviving currently.”

With his 30th day coming successful May, Iwobi knows clip is of nan essence. He remembers what it was for illustration to beryllium nan adjacent emerging prima astatine Arsenal’s academy pinch a celebrated comparative and has nary regrets astir nan measurement things person turned out.

“I’m truthful blessed and I’m truthful happy to beryllium successful nan position I americium today,” he says. “I’m evidently grateful to Arsenal because they ever nutrient youngsters. I saw Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri during nan off-season and you wouldn’t deliberation that they’re 18 – they’re some very mature and transportation themselves really well.

“No matter what property you are, I consciousness for illustration you person to springiness 100%. But yeah, I americium kicking on. I’m going to beryllium 30 adjacent season. So I’m nary longer a young kid but hopefully adjacent play I’ll make different large statement.”