Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi etched his name in the Premier League record books this weekend, surpassing John Obi Mikel’s mark for the most minutes played by a Nigerian in the competition.
Iwobi played the full 90 minutes in Fulham’s recent 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle United, pushing his Premier League career total to an impressive 16,289 minutes. This achievement eclipses the previous record of 16,218 minutes held by Chelsea legend Mikel Obi.
Iwobi’s Premier League journey began with Arsenal in 2015, where he made his debut. After establishing himself as a versatile midfielder with the Gunners, he moved to Everton in 2019 before joining Fulham last summer.
The 27-year-old’s consistency has been key to his record-breaking feat. He has featured regularly for his clubs, racking up valuable playing time. This season alone, Iwobi has contributed with five goals in 24 Premier League appearances for Fulham. Overall, he has made 247 appearances in the league, scoring 22 goals throughout his career.
While Iwobi celebrates a minutes milestone, it’s worth noting the achievements of the previous record holder, John Obi Mikel. Mikel enjoyed a decorated 11-year spell at Chelsea, winning two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and the prestigious Champions League trophy. He made a total of 249 appearances, scoring one goal and providing 10 assists.
This changing of the guard marks a new chapter for Nigerian players in the Premier League. Iwobi’s accomplishment is a testament to his dedication and hard work, and with several games remaining in the season, he has the opportunity to further extend his record.
