Fulham’s Alex Iwobi is quietly making waves in the Premier League, emerging as one of the top midfielders in progressive passing into the final third this season, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian international has surpassed high-profile playmakers such as Tottenham’s James Maddison, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, and Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic in successful forward passes.
As per Sky Sports, Iwobi has made 241 progressive passes through the opposition’s defensive lines.
This total places him second only to De Bruyne, despite the Manchester City midfielder playing just four matches this season due to injury.
This season, Iwobi has started all nine of Fulham’s league games, scoring twice and providing one assist.
His latest goal came in Fulham’s recent 1-1 draw at Everton, his former club, where he admitted to catching goalkeeper Jordan Pickford off-guard.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling to score in my last game at Goodison Park. I’ll always have love and respect for them, hence why I didn’t celebrate,” Iwobi shared post-game.
Reflecting on his goal, he explained,
“I was literally trying to get into the box, make a space, and when I got a shot, stay composed. Obviously, I know Jordan a bit well, and I know he doesn’t know I like to go near-post, so I was able to get that goal.”
Despite his impressive contributions, Iwobi emphasised his focus on team performance over personal milestones.
“The main thing, whether I score or I don’t score, is to try and get the three points. It’s almost like a loss… but the manager said we should be proud of our performance.”
With 12 points from nine games, Fulham currently sit 10th in the Premier League, a position they hope to build upon as Iwobi continues to drive their attack.