Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi is determined to surpass former Ivory Coast international Kolo Toure’s Premier League appearance record after moving into second place on the competition’s all-time list for African players, Footynaija.com reports.
The Fulham midfielder reached 329 appearances in the English top flight after featuring in his side’s 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park last Saturday.
Iwobi, previously level with former Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, moved ahead of the Egyptian, bringing him closer to a record that has stood for over 10 years.
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The 30-year-old Nigerian has accumulated his appearances across three Premier League clubs, featuring 100 times for Arsenal, 123 times for Everton and making 106 appearances for Fulham since joining the Cottagers.
However, the former Arsenal academy graduate still has some distance to cover before reaching the summit, with Toure currently holding the record with 353 appearances.
Speaking after reaching the milestone, Iwobi did not shy away from admitting that his attention is already firmly on the next target.
“It’s hard for me to cherish the memories. I’d like to keep on looking ahead, so it’s a nice little stat to have,” Iwobi told Fulham’s official television channel, FFC TV.
“But I’m trying to break the record. I think Kolo Toure is up there, so I’ll keep my eyes going forward and see if I can break that.”
Iwobi has remained an important figure in Fulham’s midfield this season, starting all nine of their Premier League matches so far.
The Nigerian has also contributed a goal in the campaign, continuing to play a key role in Marco Silva’s setup as the London club look to maintain their competitive form.
With 23 appearances separating him from Touré’s record, Iwobi will have the opportunity to continue closing the gap as the season progresses, potentially moving closer to a historic achievement for African players in the Premier League.
