Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi has revealed that he was very close to signing for Nottingham Forest before ultimately joining Fulham in 2023.
Iwobi, currently enjoying a standout season with Fulham, grabbed an assist on Saturday as the Cottagers fought back to beat Southampton 2-1 in the Premier League.
Fulham have impressed this campaign, climbing to 9th place on the table with 48 points after 33 games.
A key figure in their success has been Iwobi, who is delivering his best professional season yet. The 28-year-old has directly contributed to 15 goals, scoring nine times and providing six assists across all competitions.
Speaking to Fulham Fan News, the former Arsenal star shared that there was strong interest from Nottingham Forest before his move to Craven Cottage.
He explained that Forest’s manager at the time reached out to him personally, and fellow Super Eagles defender Ola Aina also made efforts to convince him.
“There was interest; the main interest came from Nottingham Forest,” Iwobi said, per Fulham Fan News.
“The manager at the time called me, and he asked what I was thinking about joining. Ten minutes later, Ola (Aina) called me, and he’s like, ‘Alex, you’re coming to Nottingham Forest; the manager just called me and said, persuade Alex.’”
However, despite the interest, Nottingham Forest did not follow up with an official bid, and Fulham seized the opportunity.
“I could have been linking up with Ola, but eventually they didn’t put in a bid, and only Fulham did, so that was that.”
Had the move materialized, Iwobi would have reunited with his childhood friend and international teammate Ola Aina at the City Ground. Nonetheless, he still enjoys the company of a compatriot at Fulham in Calvin Bassey.
Looking back, Iwobi’s decision to join Fulham has proven to be a masterstroke. Under the guidance of Marco Silva, a coach who understands and maximizes his strengths. Iwobi has flourished into a key figure at the heart of Fulham’s midfield.
With a few games remaining, the Super Eagles star will be aiming to maintain his impressive form as Fulham continue their push for a top-half finish.
