Alex Iwobi has equalled Shola Ameobi’s record of 298 Premier League appearances by a Nigerian.
The Fulham midfielder now stands on the brink of becoming the country’s all-time leader outright.
Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has matched Shola Ameobi’s long-standing record as the Nigerian with the most Premier League appearances, after playing his 298th game in Fulham’s clash against Bournemouth on Friday night.
The 28-year-old’s milestone comes just days after Fulham marked Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a cultural event at their Motspur Park training ground, where players and staff wore green jerseys to honour the occasion.
Iwobi, who started his career at Arsenal before moving to Everton and later Fulham, has been a regular in England’s top flight since making his debut in 2015. By equaling Ameobi’s record, he now sits at the top of the Nigerian all-time list, with only his own future appearances standing between him and sole ownership of the record. Ameobi set the mark across 14 seasons with Newcastle United and a brief spell at Crystal Palace.
Fulham embraced the achievement by sharing themed posts on their official social media platforms. The club also highlighted Iwobi’s growing influence since arriving at Craven Cottage, where his work rate and versatility have made him a core part of Marco Silva’s squad. Once primarily a winger at Arsenal, Iwobi has evolved into a dynamic midfielder capable of adapting to multiple roles.
Other Nigerians behind him on the Premier League appearance list include Nwankwo Kanu with 273 matches, Yakubu Aiyegbeni with 252, and John Obi Mikel, who registered 249 appearances during his successful Chelsea career. With Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho no longer in the league, Iwobi remains the only active Nigerian player competing at this level.
The celebrations at Motspur Park earlier in the week featured Nigerian music, decorations, and the presence of Iwobi’s international teammates Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze, along with Fulham colleagues such as Mali international Adama Traore.
