Fulham’s Iwobi Breaks Mikel Obi’s Long-Standing Premier League Record
Alex Iwobi has etched his name in the Premier League record books, surpassing John Obi Mikel for the most minutes played by a Nigerian player in the competition.
Alex Iwobi Surpasses Mikel’s Record After Full Appearance
This achievement came after Iwobi played the entire 90 minutes in Fulham’s recent 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United. This feat pushed his total Premier League minutes to 16,289, eclipsing Mikel’s long-held record of 16,218 minutes.
Mikel Held Record Despite Limited Clubs
Mikel, a former Super Eagles captain, debuted for Chelsea in 2006 and held the record ever since. Notably, he achieved this feat despite only playing for Chelsea in the Premier League. Several other Nigerian greats like Nwankwo Kanu, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, and Joseph Yobo also graced the Premier League stage, but Mikel remained on top.
Iwobi’s Steady Rise to the Top
Alex Iwobi started his Premier League journey with Arsenal before moving to Everton, where he established himself as a regular starter.
Alex Iwobi who was recently embarrassed by Manager Marco Silva in a 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest as revealed by Sports Buddy, has continued to rack up valuable minutes, culminating in this record-breaking accomplishment.
With seven games remaining in the 2023-24 season, Iwobi has the chance to further extend his lead as the Nigerian player with the most Premier League minutes played.
