Alex Iwobi equals Mohamed Salah’s Premier League record and targets Kolo Toure

Alex Iwobi has moved level with Mohamed Salah for the second-most Premier League appearances by an African international after making his 328th appearance in Fulham’s 1-0 victory over Coventry City on Saturday.

The Nigeria midfielder is now closing in on the record held by former Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure. Toure remains the leading African player for Premier League appearances with 353 matches, leaving Iwobi 26 short of the total stated in the rankings.

Iwobi’s latest milestone strengthens his position as Nigeria’s most experienced player in the competition and places him alongside Liverpool forward Salah in second place among African internationals.

The 30-year-old has built his total during spells with Arsenal, Everton and Fulham, having spent more than a decade in the Premier League.

From Arsenal debut to Fulham milestone

Iwobi made his Premier League debut on 31 October 2015, coming on as a substitute for Arsenal in a 3-0 win against Swansea City.

He made his first league start in March 2016 and marked the occasion with a goal as Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at Goodison Park.

The midfielder moved to Everton in 2019, before returning to London to join Fulham in September 2023. His time at Fulham has added another important chapter to a career in which he has become one of Nigeria’s most established players in English football.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) celebrated Iwobi’s achievement. Acting general secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme identified Toure’s total as the next target for the Fulham player.

Iwobi’s 328th appearance came as Fulham secured their second successive Premier League victory. Oscar Bobb scored the only goal against Coventry, following Fulham’s earlier 1-0 win over Hull City.

Iwobi had scored the decisive goal in that previous victory, giving Fulham all three points.

Iwobi leads Nigerian appearance rankings

Iwobi is comfortably Nigeria’s leading Premier League appearance-maker. Shola Ameobi previously held the national record with 298 matches for Newcastle United and Crystal Palace.

Former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo made 228 appearances for Everton and Norwich City, while John Mikel Obi finished with 249. Nwankwo Kanu played 273 Premier League matches and Yakubu Aiyegbeni made 252 appearances.

Ameobi and Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Zaha each made 305 Premier League appearances, placing them behind Iwobi and Salah in the African rankings.

Iwobi also holds Nigeria’s Premier League assists record, while Yakubu remains the country’s leading scorer in the competition. Yakubu scored 95 goals in 252 appearances for Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn Rovers.

Yobo is also credited with a notable endurance record after completing a 3,420-minute season. Former Nigeria striker Efan Ekoku occupies another place in Premier League history, with his achievement described as one of the notable milestones recorded by a Nigerian player.

Iwobi now has the opportunity to move beyond Salah and continue his pursuit of Toure’s African appearance record.