Super Eagles star Alex Iwobi has emerged as Fulham’s most influential attacking player this season, leading the team’s goal contributions chart with three goals and three assists in 13 Premier League appearances. As the Cottagers prepare to face Brighton & Hove Albion at Craven Cottage on Thursday, Iwobi’s form will be crucial in their quest to climb the league table.
The 28-year-old Iwobi marked a significant milestone in his last home game, scoring his 25th Premier League goal in Fulham’s 4-1 defeat to Wolves. He followed this with another key contribution, assisting Fulham’s goal in a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur, bringing his assist tally for the season to three.
Iwobi’s £22 million summer move from Everton has proven to be a valuable investment for manager Marco Silva. Iwobi sits joint-second in Fulham’s scoring charts, tied with Emile Smith Rowe and Harry Wilson, all of whom have netted three times this season. Mexican striker Raúl Jiménez leads the way with four goals in 13 appearances.
In addition to his scoring ability, Iwobi’s three assists put him in a tie for second place with left-back Antonee Robinson in Fulham’s creative department. Only Spanish winger Adama Traoré has more assists this season, with four. Iwobi shares the lead in total goal contributions (goals and assists combined) with Jiménez, both on six.
Fulham, currently sitting 10th in the Premier League, will look to Iwobi to maintain his impressive form as they face Brighton, a team they have historically performed well against, winning four and drawing four of their last eight Premier League encounters. Their most recent meeting, in March, saw Fulham secure a dominant 3-0 victory at Craven Cottage.
Iwobi’s journey to Fulham follows a successful Premier League career, starting with Arsenal in 2015, before moving to Everton. Over the course of 265 Premier League appearances, Iwobi has netted 25 goals, with 11 of those coming during his time at Arsenal and six during his Everton spell. His move to Fulham has seen him add another eight goals in his first two seasons, underlining his continued growth as a Premier League talent.
With the versatile midfielder contributing both in the final third and across various midfield roles, Iwobi has become indispensable to Silva’s setup. His consistency and ability to impact games have been key to Fulham’s attack this season. He is now eighth among Nigerian goalscorers in Premier League history, trailing Victor Anichebe (27) but still a long way from the record-holder, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who boasts 95 goals.
While Iwobi has been a dual threat as both scorer and creator, other Fulham players such as Wilson and Smith Rowe have struggled to match his all-around contributions. Traoré leads the assist charts with four but has only scored once this season.
As Fulham look to improve their standing, they will rely on Iwobi to continue his fine form, particularly as the team struggles with contributions from some of their other attacking players, including new signings such as Timothy Castagne. Fulham will be aiming to bounce back from their mixed form in midweek games, having won just one of their last six league matches played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays.
Iwobi’s influence remains crucial for Fulham, and with Brighton looming on the horizon, the Nigerian international will be hoping to extend his goal-scoring and playmaking form to help his team rise up the Premier League table.