Alex Iwobi Becomes Second in All-Time EPL Appearances by African Players

Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi has made history in the Premier League by becoming the second African player with the most appearances. He recently surpassed Mohamed Salah’s record, now holding 328 to 329 appearances.

This achievement was highlighted in a post from the Premier League’s social media account. Iwobi’s milestone came during a match against Coventry City in late October 2026, where he made his 328th appearance.

Kolo Touré from Ivory Coast holds the all-time record with 353 appearances. Iwobi’s appearances have come from his time at three clubs: 100 at Arsenal, 123 at Everton, and over 100 at Fulham since joining in 2023.

Iwobi is also the record holder for Nigerian players in the Premier League, having surpassed Shola Ameobi’s previous mark of 298 appearances. He is about 25 appearances away from matching Touré’s record.

The current top African players in terms of Premier League appearances are:

• Kolo Touré (Ivory Coast) – 353
• Alex Iwobi (Nigeria) – 328–329
• Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – 328
• Jordan Ayew (Ghana) – 305
• Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast) – 305
• Shola Ameobi (Nigeria) – 298

Iwobi’s consistent performance over the past decade has made him a key player in the league. As he continues to play regularly for both Fulham and the Nigerian national team, he has a good chance of closing the gap on Touré’s record in the coming seasons.