Tag: Iwobi

Alex Iwobi was picked among Fulham ‘s top three performers in the Cottagers 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Sunday even as manager Marco Silva singled out the Nigerian international striker for special praise.

Though he was beaten to the Man of the Match Award by Joao Palhinha who got 61.5% of the votes as against Iwobi’s 19.3% votes and Bernd Leno’s 5.1%, Silva said he was impressed with the performance of the former Everton’s midfielder.

Asked about how the Nigerian international fared, Silva , talking to the club’s official website said: “Very good performance from him, we know what he can offer for us and the energy that he can give to us is really important.

“[He’s] always up and down, never stops, he can play in many positions, today is a good example.

“He played in three different positions. He played as an eight a little bit more higher and then side-by-side with Joao [Palhinha] and then he finished as a left-winger as well.

Read Also: ALEX IWOBI: I’ve had my low times, I overcame them all

“He has this capacity, he gives me the chance even without changes to move him in all the pitch, it’s important and of course, the most important is that he has the quality to help us like he’s showing.

“Of course, he’s showing why we signed him and why he’s with us.”

Iwobi will take heart from Silva’s comments after his performance against Brighton and will hope he can retain his place in the side now.

He replaced Andreas Pereira who was superb last season before picking up a serious ankle injury at the end of the campaign.

The Brazilian has struggled without Aleksandar Mitrovic ahead of him and with Jimenez and Carlos Vinicius failing to hit the same heights, Pereira needs to take his game to another level to get back into the team ahead of Iwobi.

Iwobi arrived from Everton on deadline day in a deal that could reach £22m and already looks like a fantastic option for Silva.

As someone who is grafted to make a career in football, Fulham winger Alex Iwobi is used to training hard and Premier League match days for Arsenal, Everton and now Fulham.

Although, that is not where he gets all his kicks. When it comes to playing, enjoyment is at the forefront.

“I always like to entertain with the ball at my feet, whether that’s a skill or trying to score, especially with friends,” he told Forbes.

“Professionally, you have to be a bit more serious. You have to try and win at all costs. Playing with my friends is where I feel most free.”

Iwobi, who completed a deal worth up to €25 million ($27 million) from Everton to mid-table Fulham in September, has experienced both edges to the Premier League.

Breaking through at Arsenal, he showed his flair in an elite attacking setup under former coaches Arsène Wenger and Unai Emery. For struggling Everton, he was among the players scrapping to preserve Everton’s near 70-year stay in the top tier.

Read Also: Iwobi eager to fight for Fulham’s starting line-up

Back in London, where he grew up, Fulham will hope the 27-year-old—whose résumé includes an FA Cup winners medal, World Cup and Champions League knowhow and a stellar Europa League final goal—can bring both quality and grit as the club works to build on a 10th place league standing last term.

A fully-fledged Nigeria international with 63 appearances, Iwobi doesn’t need to look far to find soccer inspiration. The forward says he admired Ronaldinho during the Brazilian’s days at Barcelona, but there have been few more entertaining Premier League players than his uncle, former midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha. Iwobi’s answer is clear when asked whether the former Bolton Wanderers magician has impacted his approach.

“100%. Especially growing up as a kid and having him as an idol, watching him, and him telling me to play with a smile on my face,” Iwobi responds. “I saw him enjoying football (soccer) with his flair and skills. So, I try and do the same, but in my style. Even off the field, he’s always advised me. And he’s someone who loves his fashion, too. I’ve bumped into him a couple of times when going shopping. He’s someone I look up to.”

After his second half introduction in Fulham’s 0-2 defeat to Chelsea on Monday, Alex Iwobi said he would continue to work harder to secure a starting line-up in Coach Marco Silva’s star-studded squad.

In the Premiership tie against Chelsea, much of Fulham’s improvement after the break was down to Coach Silva’s substitutions as Carlos Vinicius, Sasa Lukic, Tom Cairney and Alex Iwobi injected vitality into Fulham that was missing in the first half.

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Iwobi, in particular, took risks, beat players, and drove forward. Just as he did by scoring in the Carabao Cup win over Norwich last Wednesday, Iwobi showed why plenty of Fulham fans want Silva to start him.

“I feel like I added a bit of energy to the game”, Iwobi said. “That’s what the manager told me to do: to just be dynamic when we have the ball, with a lot more movement.

“I’m working to try and get a start, but there’s so many quality players in the team all deserving to start. Whenever my time comes, I’ll try and take my chance.”

Coach Marco Silva is not giving up on his new signee Alex Iwobi as the tactician believes the Nigerian can play a pivotal role for Fulham this season.

The Nigeria international reunited with his former manager on transfer deadline day, leaving Silva’s previous employers Everton for a reported £22m.

Iwobi scored on his first start for the Cottagers in the midweek win over Norwich in the Carabao Cup, teeing up a home tie with Ipswich Town in the fourth round to be played next month.

Silva has backed the 27-year-old to make an impact at Craven Cottage as Fulham prepare to host Chelsea in today’s Premier League west London derby.

Read Also: Arsenal cruise to victory at Bournemouth

 “It was very good [Iwobi’s performance against Norwich],” Silva said.

“He’s a player I know really well, he knows the Premier League so well and he’s mature. He has the quality, can play in many different positions and is a player that will give us the quality that we need in certain parts of the game.

“He provides that extra energy as well. It was good for him to score on his first game in a Fulham shirt and I want to see more of him.

“He’s going to be a really important player for us and I am pleased for him for starting his first game.”

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has blasted Everton for selling Alex Iwobi to Fulham and he couldn’t believe that Everton allowed the Nigerian to leave.

Speaking to Premier League Productions, the former striker claimed the Toffees had ‘fallen off’ after selling one of their ‘top’ players to a club like Fulham.

Iwobi joined Everton from Arsenal in a deal rising to £34 million four years ago and went on to make 140 appearances for the club, arguably becoming their best player last season as he scored twice and provided seven assists in the Premier League.

Sean Dyche’s side were previously adamant they would keep the Nigerian but eventually sold him for around £22m on transfer deadline day.

Iwobi had reportedly already refused to sign a new contract at Goodison Park and would have been available for free at the end of the campaign, however Wright still believes it was a terrible decision and has compared it to Wayne Rooney joining Manchester United in 2004.

“Everton have sold, for me, arguably, their best creative player in the last couple of seasons in Iwobi,” Wright said. “And they sold him to Fulham. This is the level they have dropped to. I am not disrespecting Fulham. We are talking about Rooney to Manchester United, talking about big players, and even Arteta going to Arsenal.

Read Also: Revealed: Why Everton accepted Fulham’s offer for Iwobi

“Players going to big clubs now. Everton are selling certain players, top players, to Fulham. That’s how far they have fallen off.

“It has to be pointed at his door, Moshiri’s door. Simply because he has come in with the money and he doesn’t realise that it’s another level of ownership now. He didn’t have the expertise for it.”

Iwobi didn’t have the goal stats to show it, but he was a very important player for Everton in the middle of the park.

The Toffees were mistaken in thinking they could get away with not replacing him and they will suffer for that this season, however selling him for £22m was arguably quite a good deal.

The 27-year-old looked set to leave on a free transfer next summer, so making back such a big chunk of his price tag was actually pretty good business for Everton.

However, their failure to bring in a similar midfielder makes it a lot more questionable and it could prove to be a huge decision in their gradual fall to the Championship.

Everton weren’t in a position to turn down Fulham’s bid for Alex Iwobi last week.

According to The Athletic, the Toffees had previously made tying the midfielder down to a new contract a main priority.

However, after failing to reach an agreement with Iwobi, they decided they couldn’t really say no to Fulham’s £22 million offer.

Iwobi had looked set to return to action as usual as Everton faced Sheffield United at the weekend, however he instead completed a permanent move to Craven Cottage the previous day.

The Nigerian joined Marco Silva’s side on a five-year contract after the Toffees had accepted a bid for his signature on transfer deadline day.

Read Also:Dyche laments Iwobi’s exit from Everton

Iwobi’s departure came as a huge surprise as Everton were already lacking squad depth and were now parting ways with one of last season’s best performers.

The report has claimed that Everton initially saw getting Iwobi to agree to a new contract as a top priority and had already made him a number of offers, however they were unable to get the 27-year-old to put pen to paper.

With only a year left on his contract at Goodison Park, Everton quickly decided they weren’t in the financial position to turn down Fulham’s £22m bid and instead let him leave to avoid him going for free in less than 12 months.

Everton have taken a huge risk in letting Alex Iwobi leave with no replacement for him, however to rake in £22m for him is actually very impressive.

With the midfielder unlikely to sign a new contract on Merseyside, Iwobi looked dead set to leave the club on a free transfer next summer. However, they have instead made a very decent fee less than a year earlier.

Keeping Demarai Gray could also be very important in Iwobi’s exit, though they will definitely need to strengthen in that position and could opt to look into the free transfer market themselves. One player that could potentially fill that void is Jesse Lingard, who is still without a club after leaving Nottingham Forest.

Excited with the transfer deadline signing of Alex Iwobi from Everton, General Manager and Sporting Director of Fulham FC, Tony Khan said that the former Arsenal star would bring his English Premiership and national team experience to the coach Marco Silva side this season.

Iwobi moved from Everton to Fulham for an undisclosed fee until the summer of 2028 and the Nigerian is excited about reuniting with Silva again after playing under the coach at Everton.

However, Khan who was part of the team that facilitated the smooth process of signing Iwobi from Everton said: “I’m happy to welcome Alex Iwobi to Fulham! He’s an exciting and versatile player whom we’ve admired for some time.

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 “He has experience in the Premier League and in international competition with Nigeria. We’re excited that Alex has joined us on a long term contract, and we believe that he’ll make a valuable contribution to Marco’s squad! Come on Fulham,” Khan said.

The 27-year-old described his transfer to Fulham as another chapter in his blossoming career while pledging to help the team this season.

 “I’m buzzing, I just can’t wait to get started, I’m excited to start my journey here,” Iwobi told FFCtv.“Marco Silva spoke to me about the ambitions of the Club, and I’m on board. Hopefully I can bring something to the club.”

Everton and Fulham have sealed an agreement on the transfer of Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi. 

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the transfer of the former Arsenal midfielder to Fulham is a ‘done deal’.

According to Romano, Fulham have agreed to pay Everton £22 million (including add-ons) for the services of the Nigeria international.

He wrote on his twitter wall: Alex Iwobi to Fulham, here we go! Deal agreed after negotiations collapsed for Ocampos earlier this week ⚪️⚫️

Fee around £22m add-ons included, as @skysports_sheth mentioned.

Read Also: Everton urged to keep Alex Iwobi

Medical in London later today. pic.twitter.com/LS9awJGoTF

The 27-year-old midfield ace is already booked for a medical later today, with all the contracts expected to be signed before tonight’s transfer deadline.

Iwobi joined Everton in the summer of 2019, shortly after helping Nigeria to a bronze medal finish at that year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Everton FC manager, Sean Dyche has confirmed the likely departure of Super Eagles winger, Alex Iwobi to another club before the end of the current transfer window.

The Toffees are winless from their opening three games but besides the unimpressive results, Everton are set to lose their star performers, Iwobi who is reportedly on the radar of Fulham FC.

Fielding questions on potential incomings and outgoings before Friday night’s summer transfer deadline, Dyche added: “There are a few circling a few of our players. [Alex Iwobi] is one of them. Him and Tom Cannon are in similar situations but nothing is agreed yet.

Read Also: Everton may trade off Iwobi to Fulham

“The Club has to look at the business side of it. Money is not free-flowing so it has to be looked at. If anything happens with those two players, we’ll see what we can do next.

“We’re obviously monitoring situations in terms of avenues we can go down but you need the finances to bring those players in.”

Iwobi joined Everton in the 2019-20 season from Arsenal whom he joined while in their Academy and he has played 161 EPL games with six goals to his credit.

He may be teaming up with Fulham who have Super Eagles defender, Calvin Bassey and Nigeria’s prospect, Tosin Adarabioyo in their team already.