Alex Iwobi has etched his name into Premier League history by becoming the joint-highest Nigerian appearance maker in the competition. The Fulham midfielder matched Shola Ameobi’s long-standing record of 298 games when he started against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Friday night.
The milestone came just two days after Fulham celebrated Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day at their Motspur Park training ground, with the squad donning bright green jerseys to mark the occasion.
Iwobi, 28, began his Premier League career at Arsenal before playing for Everton and later Fulham, where he has established himself as a versatile and reliable figure in Marco Silva’s squad. His tally now equals that of Ameobi, who reached 298 appearances during his 14 years with Newcastle United and a short loan spell at Crystal Palace.
With Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho no longer in the league, Iwobi is currently the only active Nigerian still adding to his Premier League total. He now has the chance to stand alone at the top of the all-time chart when he makes his next appearance.
Behind Iwobi and Ameobi, Nwankwo Kanu ranks third with 273 appearances across spells at Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion, and Portsmouth. Yakubu Aiyegbeni follows with 252 games, while Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel rounds out the top five with 249.
Fulham’s Nigerian-themed Independence Day festivities earlier in the week added extra colour to Iwobi’s achievement, featuring music from P-Square, Tekno, and Fido, as well as the presence of teammates Calvin Bassey, Samuel Chukwueze, and Mali’s Adama Traoré.
Iwobi’s record-equalling feat highlights his consistency, adaptability, and resilience in one of the toughest leagues in the world — and his very next match could see him make history as Nigeria’s outright Premier League appearance leader.
