African footballers. Alex Iwobi makes history. Fulham’s Alex Iwobi has made history by surpassing John Obi-Mikel to become the Nigerian player with the most minutes played in the English Premier League.
Iwobi achieved this milestone during Fulham’s 1-0 loss to Newcastle, where he played the full 90 minutes. With this game, Iwobi’s total Premier League minutes reached 16,289, surpassing the previous record set by John Mikel Obi (16,218 minutes) during his eleven-year tenure at Chelsea.
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Mikel’s reign ends
Mikel, the former Super Eagles captain, had held the record since his debut for Chelsea in 2006. Despite departing Chelsea in 2016-2017 and not representing another Premier League club, he maintained his status as the leader in this category for Nigerian players.
During his illustrious tenure at Chelsea, Mikel amassed a collection of trophies, including two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and the esteemed 2011-12 Champions League trophy. Following his departure from Chelsea, Mikel went on to play for Tianjin TEDA, Middlesbrough, Trabzonspor, and Stoke City.
Alex Iwobi’s rise
Iwobi started his Premier League journey with Arsenal before transitioning to Everton, where he established himself as a regular starter, consistently amassing minutes throughout his career.
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With over seven games remaining in the 2023-24 season, Alex Iwobi’s impressive performance could potentially earn him additional playing time, further solidifying his position as the Nigerian player with the most minutes in the Premier League.
More about Alex Iwobi
Alexander Chuka Iwobi, born on May 3, 1996, is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Fulham and the Nigeria national team.
Iwobi began his career at Arsenal, where he made 149 appearances and scored fifteen goals. He secured an FA Cup victory in 2017 and notably scored in the 2019 UEFA Europa League final. In August 2019, he transferred to Everton for an initial fee of £28 million.
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Initially representing England up to under-18 level, Iwobi made his senior international debut for Nigeria in October 2015. He has since been a part of Nigeria’s squads at the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019, 2021, and 2023, achieving a third-place finish in the 2019 tournament and finishing as runner-up in the 2023 tournament.