Alex Iwobi has moved ahead of Mohammed Salah to become the second highest African player in Premier League appearance history, marking another significant milestone in the Nigerian midfielder's career.
The Fulham midfielder now has 329 appearances in the English top flight, one more than Egyptian forward Salah, who has featured 328 times.
Only former Ivory Coast international Kolo Touré, with 353 appearances, stands above Iwobi on the all time African list.
Iwobi's achievement reflects a Premier League career spanning three clubs: Arsenal, Everton and Fulham.
He has established himself as a consistent presence in English football since making his senior breakthrough at Arsenal.
Iwobi's Premier League Journey Across Three Clubs
The 30 year old has accumulated his 329 appearances through the following spells...
- Arsenal: 100 appearances, 11 goals
- Everton: 123 appearances, six goals
- Fulham: 106 appearances, 19 goals
His time at Arsenal marked the beginning of his Premier League journey.
After progressing through the club's academy, he became part of the first team squad and featured in the 2017 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea.
Iwobi moved to Everton in 2019, where he continued to develop his game and became an important option across midfield and attack.
His move to Fulham in 2023 provided another opportunity to establish himself, and he has continued to contribute regularly for the London club.
The three club journey has now taken him beyond Salah in the African appearance rankings.
Kolo Touré's Record Is the Next Target
Although Iwobi has moved into outright second place, Kolo Touré remains Africa's most capped player in Premier League history with 353 appearances.
The Nigerian needs another 24 appearances to equal Touré's record and 25 to surpass it.
That gives Iwobi another major personal target as he continues his career with Fulham. However, reaching the record will depend on his fitness, selection and continued involvement in the Premier League.
For Nigerian football, the achievement is another reminder of Iwobi's longevity at the highest level of English club football.
Sportivoza Verdict
Alex Iwobi's rise to second place is an achievement built over several seasons and three Premier League clubs.
Moving ahead of Mohamed Salah is a significant milestone, but the record held by Kolo Touré now provides another target.
With 329 appearances already recorded, Iwobi is 25 games away from becoming the African player with the most Premier League appearances.
The Nigerian midfielder has already secured his place among the competition's most experienced African players.
The next milestone could make his name even more prominent in Premier League history.