Alex Iwobi sits alone in a hotel room. He’s in a dark place. A few weeks earlier, Iwobi’s Nigeria narrowly lost the 2023 African Cup of Nations final to Ivory Coast. His social media was bombarded with vitriol after the loss, causing the midfielder to wipe all accounts clean.
It’s a depressingly familiar story in modern football, individual players targeted by faceless keyboard warriors because their team lost a match. However Iwobi isn’t the type to be cowed. He reached for his phone and started to type his thoughts onto the notes app, words he would later put to music for his 2025 single ‘Letter’. “Pain in the chest, let it offload. Cold in the heart, got the veins so ice snow.”
Later in the song, he directly addresses the recent events. “AFCON they all tried to hate man, came off the socials cos they tried to break man,” Iwobi raps over a swoony beat. “Nah I can’t rate that. Ain’t Gary Barlow so I can’t take that.”
The song became an outlet for his own frustration and an opportunity to tell his side of the story. Other lyrics address the idea that a footballer having any interests other than football – and perhaps golf – somehow proves a lack of focus, even a failure of character. “Pundits and the tweets, yeah they all wanna talk. Saying stay focused and stick to the ball. But look at this season, check all the stats. Drop a couple of tunes and the footy’s on track.”
- “Music’s almost like therapy to me,” Iwobi tells me in the lounge of The Standard in King’s Cross. He named his recently released EP More To Life as an explicit rebuttal to those who’d define the 30-year-old solely by his job.
I’m not just a footballer. There’s more to life. I can do music – but at the same time, it’s not just music
Because there’s so much more to Iwobi than football. There’s the music, released under his artistic moniker 17. (His shirt number for Fulham.) There’s the fashion, Iwobi frequently popping up on various front rows – including Paris Fashion Week. There’s the philanthropy, his Project 17 charity aiming to inspire young people through various community initiatives.
So yes, he may have played more than 300 matches for Arsenal, Everton and Fulham, while approaching a century of caps for Nigeria, but football is only part of the person. Don’t get it wrong: he loves the game, frequently donning a balaclava to join his mates for covert five-a-sides. Football is in his blood – his uncle is the legendary Nigerian playmaker Jay-Jay Okocha.
I meet Iwobi and his team around the corner from The Standard. He’s doing a quick vox pop for a social media channel, answering various fashion questions on camera. Best dressed footballer? He nominates Marcus Thuram. His own style? Dark clothes, simple yet effective. Does the UK or America have better street style? In his opinion, America. Afterwards he’s gifted a pair of socks from the interviewer’s own fashion brand. Iwobi’s gratitude is effusive and, as far as I can tell, completely sincere.
While he’s obviously one of the good guys, Iwobi’s most appealing characteristic is the boundless joie de vivre. He cracks jokes with everyone, laughing like a man who’s just landed the jackpot. He’s naturally curious, one of those people who’ll try everything once and the good stuff many times over.
As a schoolboy footballer, Iwobi naturally looked up to Okocha. He learned a lot from his uncle, including the most important lesson of all: “to be unapologetically yourself.” In the case of Alex Iwobi, that’s a pretty great person to be.
Square Mile: Music has been part of your life from a young age, right?
Alex Iwobi: Yeah, literally from when I was in secondary school. I come from a family where we just like to chill and listen to music. Even when the house is chilling, music’s always in the background.
SM: When did you start properly recording music?
AI: The first time I recorded something, I was age nine and I went to my boy’s studio on the same road as me and made a tune. Was it great? No! [Laughs.] I don’t know where the song is, but that’s the first time I went to the studio. We were just freestyling. It weren’t the best of songs but you have to start somewhere!
SM: Are there any particular musicians who inspired you?
AI: Where I grew up, we used to listen to Chipmunk – when he was called Chipmunk [he’s now Chip] – Wretch 32, Giggs. Some people listened to Kano, Skepta, but I think Wretch 31, Chip, Giggs were my main three. Chip, he’s my guy now. Him and Wretch 32 are a couple cool guys.
SM: When you record music, what part of your personality are you showcasing?
AI: It depends. When we go to the booth, one of us will create a topic to talk about. And normally we talk about things that we go through – whether that’s going on holiday or football or someone that is important to them, maybe a relationship or something. We always have things to talk about and relate it to our lives.
Every time you go to the studio, we never know what we’re going to create. We might hear a beat and then we just think of something.
I was in the hotel by myself before a game and I was just going through what was in my head.
SM: Your EP is titled More to Life. Is that title specifically referring to there being more to life than football?
AI: Yes, it’s a different side of me that people are learning about. So it’s showcasing that I’m not just a footballer. There’s more to life. I can do music – but at the same time, it’s not just music. I like to do other things, like fashion stuff or charity stuff. There’s a lot of things I like to do. So More To Life is the best way to show people that it’s not just football.
SM: There’s a line on the opening track, “brand new person ‘bout to unleash…”
AI: Yes, that’s the intro to show people! It’s the last lyric to say, ‘you’re about to see a new character.’
SM: Do you have a particular favourite lyric or song on the EP?
AI: My favourite song, because it’s me talking about my stuff and what I’ve been through, especially when I was at AFCON at one point, it will be the last song, Letter. I remember writing the lyrics.
I was in the hotel by myself before a game and I was just going through what was in my head. I was just literally laying it down on my notes and I said, ‘Oh, I want to freestyle this in the booth.’ And that’s how it came around.
SM: Are you referring to the AFCON a couple of years ago? When people were going at you on social media?
AI: Yeah, literally. I think it was a couple games after that. Music’s almost like therapy to me. So I was in my room just listening to the beat and then we were just writing away, all my notes, and that’s how that song came about.
SM: Your 2024 song ‘Don’t Shoot’ explores violence among young people. Do you like your music to have a social or deeper message?
AI: Most of the songs we create, we like to showcase the people, talk about my life and also put a message out there. ‘Don’t Shoot’ was trying to say, stay away from the violence. Obviously where I grew up, there’s always a bit of that around.
We grew up in places that people get into situations they shouldn’t be getting into. Saying ‘Don’t Shoot’ also related to football – saying don’t do that, go and shoot on the football pitch. That’s the message I was trying to get across.
SM: You do loads of charity work. Is that something that comes from your family?
AI: My mum and dad like to give without even me knowing. It’s only that the older I’ve got, I’ve witnessed what they’ve done, not just for me but for other family members, relatives. When the bin men come, you’d make sure that all of them have a bottle of water or fizzy drink or beer. My dad would go and chase them to say, “oh, you forgot your water.” So just little things like that.
I thought if my dad can do that, I’m in this position – of course as a footballer, you earn quite a bit. I can give back to communities and bring people together. And for example, I did the Christmas shop and I was able to give back to people that are not able to enjoy Christmas as much as they’d want. Any little thing like that. We create ideas and try to bring it to life.
I’ll never get too happy because we’re always mentally balanced and mentally OK
SM: There’s a lovely video of you giving away Christmas food in Canning Town. Will you be doing that every year?
AI: Yeah, we try to do something every summer and every winter. The summer is the football tournament and winter is something Christmas related. But each year we’re trying to get bigger and better, trying to get creative.
SM: You’re also involved with the mental health charity Beder FC. Football can be a tough sport. How do you ensure you’re looking after your own mental health?
AI: I can only speak for myself because I’m so blessed to have a good support system around me – from my family to my friends. Whoever’s around me, they always keep me on the straight and narrow. I make sure I’m guided and always have someone – a shoulder to chat to, cry on, to talk to. They always motivate me to do well. And the same way they motivate me, I motivate them. It’s a nice relationship that I have.
I’ll never get too happy because we’re always mentally balanced and mentally OK. I’m grateful for my support system. I wish that everyone, whomever’s going through situations, they have someone to talk to.
SM: People talk about players struggling with an injury but they could be going through a tough time in their personal life. That can presumably affect their form as well. But you can’t go out and say, “I’m sorry, I played shit the other night, I broke up with my girlfriend…”
AI: Yeah, of course. Those sorts of conversations, or those sorts of situations, not many people know about. They only see the injury side, but people go through this.
Like my EP says, there’s more to life than just football. People could go through things that you don’t really know about. That’s why I’m blessed to have a support system where I can talk to anyone. I just hope that people have that as well.
SM: Is that ‘more to life’ mentality common among footballers? There’s this stereotype of these obsessive players like, say, Roy Keane, where football is all that matters to them, all the time.
AI: Even with him, he might be into golf or something. I’m just showing people that I’m not afraid to express myself outside of football. And I want people to be inspired to go and do the same thing.
If you want to be a golfer, if you want to do something fashion related, more people are coming out now and showing that they’re not just a footballer.
I feel like it’s healthy. If it was just football, football, football? For me, I think I’d go insane! So I feel like it’s healthy for me, but at the same time, if people want to be like Roy Keane, football, football, football, I have no issue with that.
The older I’ve got, I don’t really focus on outside noise. I only really listen to my close circle
SM: Totally agree. But fan culture being what it is, if you have a tough game, someone’s going to be in the pub saying, ‘he’s focusing on his music too much.’
AI: Of course. But that’s why I feel like the older I’ve got, I don’t really focus on outside noise. I only really listen to my close circle because they will know and tell me if I’m really distracted or if I’m really not doing my best. They’ll let me know. But at the same time, I feel like I’m wise enough to know that if I’m not doing my best, I need to fix up.
SM: Have you ever played your music in the dressing room yet?
AI: Yes, I’ve played a few songs, unreleased songs. I like to get feedback from my teammates, particularly Calvin Bassey – he is brutal.
He’ll let me know, ‘oh, this song, it’s not it.’ But every time I’ve played a song he’s liked, the other teammates have liked it.
Before ‘Don’t Shoot’ came out, we were playing it in the gym and the manager walked in and just [nods head, clicks fingers]. He doesn’t know what I’m saying, but it’s a good sign when he’s doing this!
SM: Marco Silva’s a fan?
AI: He is a fan. He actually enjoys the fact that I’m living my life outside of football. As long as I’m doing well on the pitch, he doesn’t mind.
SM: He’s managed you at Fulham for several years, obviously managed you at Everton as well. You guys must have a very good working relationship?
AI: Of course, of course. Even yesterday we had a meeting just to talk about my performances and he’s trying to help me improve. I play a lot more in the central position now, in midfield, so he’s trying to help me with my tactical awareness and my defensive duties.
He’s always one that wants to improve, not just me, but the team. And it’s nice to have a manager like that.
SM: You made your Arsenal debut more than ten years ago…
AI: A long time ago! Crazy.
What has surprised me? I don’t know. There’s an element of surprise almost every day
SM: Does it feel like a long time ago? Or does it feel like yesterday?
AI: I mean, I never have the time to just reflect because with football, there’s always another opportunity around the corner. But when you say it like that, it does kind of feel like yesterday.
I remember making my Premier League debut against Swansea, just coming on to take a corner and play it short. I remember playing against Sheffield Wednesday, even though we lost, getting on the ball and the dark blue kit that we were wearing… I still remember it.
SM: Whenever I watch interviews with any sportsman, you bring up a game they played five, 10 years ago and they remember all the details, who scored…
AI: Sheffield Wednesday we lost, so I don’t remember who scored.
SM: I’m guessing you remember your first goal for Arsenal?
AI: Yeah, against Everton. I remember Hector Bellerin gave me the assist. I was running down, scored, done a crazy celebration into the camera. It was against Everton, the team that I signed for after, so I’ll never forget it!
SM: What’s surprised you most about your career to date?
AI: Ooh, what has surprised me? I don’t know. There’s an element of surprise almost every day. I didn’t know I was going to go to Everton and then would be in a relegation battle towards the end of my Everton career. I would have never thought I’d sign for another team back in London, coming back home again.
I never would have thought I’d play for Arsenal first team. You just never know. It’s just crazy. I played in the Champions League – my first start was against Lionel Messi, Neymar. Almost everything comes as a surprise but I worked to get where I am.
SM: What are you most proud of?
AI: My proudest moment will always be playing against Zambia and scoring the goal to send us to the World Cup. Not because of the game, what was at stake, but because of the fact my parents were there. They’d come to Nigeria to watch the game. And when I scored, I saw my mum, someone stepped on her toe! But I see my mom, sadly limping, and celebrating! That was a special moment for me.
SM: If you could relive one match in your career, which one would you choose?
AI: That moment. That moment. I remember scoring, I came off the bench, scored, done the crazy celebration. Nigerian fans are going crazy. Seeing my mom obviously limping on one foot, my dad’s celebrating. And after the game, Nigerians flooding the hotel, but I was just literally celebrating with my mum and dad. That was an amazing feeling.
SM: What about changing a result?
AI: Playing Chelsea, Europa League final. Even though I scored, I wish we won.
SM: You joined Arsenal as a schoolboy. Is it strange growing up in such a high pressure situation?
AI: No, because you get accustomed. I’d been at Arsenal since I signed from nine, so I always knew I was playing for one of the best academies in the world. So you learn to deal with that pressure from young because I was always in it. So no, I’ve always been able to handle pressure.
I had an uncle that played football. He guided me and gave me tips on how to conduct myself. No, I’ve never had pressure to get the better of me. Obviously I’ve had mistakes that I could learn from but I’ve never felt the pressure to get the learning.
SM: What did you learn from your uncle growing up?
AI: To be yourself, to be unapologetically yourself. When he was playing at Bolton, I used to go and watch his games. I was getting older and I was just seeing him playing football, smiling on his face, expressing himself. So I would say deal with just being yourself.
SM: What manager’s been the most influential for your career?
AI: Frank Lampard. Some people say, not Arsene Wenger, Carlo Ancelotti? It’s actually Frank Lampard.
I was going through a tough time at Everton where I wasn’t playing. I came off the back of the AFCON, getting a red card. I was meant to be going out on loan, but Frank Lampard revitalised my career, resurrected me and said, “Just go and play, go do you.” Ever since then, I’ve literally been myself and been enjoying my football.
SM: Is there any teammate who’s made a big difference to your career?
AI: I’m going to go with Seamus Coleman because when I signed at Everton, it wasn’t the easiest start. Obviously it was a new challenge, new environment, new culture, but he always spoke to me every day and made sure that I was in a good place mentally. He just gave me that confidence to go and express myself. So it was nice to have that, from such a legend as well. So I appreciate Seamus Coleman. Every time I see him, I remind him.
I’m not one to set myself goals. Every day I just try to better myself
SM: Roy Hodgson wanted you to play for England. What made you opt for Nigeria?
AI: I started playing for Arsenal and then Hodgson wanted me to go and play the under-21s with Gareth Southgate. At the same time, Nigeria wanted me to go and play in the Olympics. So I thought, let me at least go and see what Nigeria’s like before I made the decision on playing for either England or Nigeria.
And when I went to Nigeria, I felt more at home. I grew up in a Nigerian household and it just felt like this was the place for me to continue playing in my career.
SM: What do you hope to accomplish in the sort of time left during your career? Do you have any particular goals?
AI: I’m not one to set myself goals. Every day I just try to better myself, whether it’s in training, try to score, try to assist, and see where I end up. I’ll never really set myself goals.
But if I was to set myself a goal, just to be the best version of me on and off the pitch every day. I always wish that I could win AFCON, go to the World Cup again, but I just want to be myself and do the best I can every day.
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SM: You’re a sharp dresser. Any favourite clothing brands?
AI: Zara. People are surprised! They think it’s gonna be the LVs or the Pradas but I actually really do love Zara!
SM: Fashion, football, music, charity, philanthropy. Are there any other areas that you want to expand into?
AI: I don’t know. It’s very random. One day I just pick up the phone and say to my boys I wanna do something.
For example, I went horse riding and none of my friends would have thought that. What am I doing going horse riding? And I actually enjoyed it. There’s nice scenery, nice views. Obviously the horse didn’t even go into a trot. I was just walking. But it was nice.
I’m ready to experience things – apart from anything to do with height because I have a phobia of heights.
SM: You still have years of playing left ahead of you, but have you thought about your post-football career?
AI: No idea. No idea. I’m lucky, I’ve always had a great support system. I’ve been investing my money, so I’ll be comfortable after football, but there’s no rush. I don’t know what I’ll do. I’ll just hopefully continue living life happily and just exploring different countries, just seeing things that as a footballer you don’t get the opportunity to do and see.
So we’ll see. I haven’t got anything planned. But I’m definitely not hanging the boots up anytime soon.
