Nigeria star Alex Iwobi becomes joint-second most capped African player in Premier League

Nigerian international Alex Iwobi has joined Egypt captain Mohamed Salah as the joint-second most-capped African player in Premier League history after reaching 328 appearances in the English top flight.

The Fulham midfielder achieved the milestone during his side’s 1-0 Premier League victory over Coventry City on October 24, 2026, further cementing his place among Africa’s most enduring contributors to English football.

Iwobi’s achievement places him level with Liverpool forward Salah, with the pair now trailing former Ivory Coast international Kolo Touré, who holds the record with 353 Premier League appearances.

The milestone highlights Iwobi’s remarkable longevity in English football, having established himself in the Premier League through spells at Arsenal, Everton and Fulham.

The Nigerian began his senior career at Arsenal, where he progressed through the club’s youth system before making his first-team breakthrough. His performances earned him a move to Everton in 2019, where he continued to develop his versatility and influence in midfield.

Iwobi subsequently joined Fulham, where he has remained an important figure, contributing his technical ability, work rate and attacking creativity to the London club.

His consistency across different teams has helped him reach the 328-appearance mark, putting him alongside Salah, who has enjoyed a prolific Premier League career with Chelsea and Liverpool.

Salah, meanwhile, has established himself as one of the competition’s most influential forwards, particularly during his time at Liverpool, where his goalscoring exploits have earned him numerous individual honours.

At the top of the rankings is Touré, whose 353 Premier League appearances came during spells with Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool. The former defender remains the African player with the most appearances in the competition.

With Iwobi still active in the Premier League, the Nigerian midfielder has an opportunity to move clear of Salah and close the gap on Touré’s record.

His latest achievement adds another notable chapter to his career and underlines the sustained presence of African players in one of the world’s most competitive domestic leagues.

Most Premier League appearances by African players

1. Kolo Touré (Ivory Coast) – 353 appearances

2. Alex Iwobi (Nigeria) – 328 appearances

3. Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – 328 appearances