Connect with us

English Premier League

Alex Iwobi: Nigerian midfielder breaks 11-year record in English Premier League

Published

on

Alex Iwobi: Nigerian midfielder breaks 11-year record in English Premier League

By Wale Mustapha

LONDON — Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has etched his name into English Premier League history, becoming the Nigerian player with the most appearances in the competition’s history.

The Fulham star reached the milestone on Saturday after featuring in his side’s narrow 1–0 defeat to Arsenal at Craven Cottage, marking his 299th Premier League appearance—surpassing the long-standing record of 288 held by former Newcastle United forward Shola Ameobi.

Iwobi’s record-breaking moment came fittingly against Arsenal, the club where he made his Premier League debut and rose through the ranks after joining their academy as a teenager.

He went on to make 149 appearances for the Gunners before moving to Everton in 2019, where he featured in 140 games.

Since joining Fulham, Iwobi has made 85 appearances for the West London club, with Saturday’s outing marking a historic personal achievement.

Internationally, the 28-year-old has been a mainstay for the Super Eagles, earning over 70 caps and representing Nigeria at multiple Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Iwobi’s achievement adds to his growing legacy as one of Nigeria’s most successful football exports, following in the footsteps of legends such as Nwankwo Kanu, John Obi Mikel, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, and Ameobi himself.

As he nears the 300-match milestone, Iwobi remains a consistent figure in the Premier League and continues to inspire a new generation of Nigerian footballers dreaming of success on England’s biggest stage.

author avatar
Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
Continue Reading