The Fulham midfielder goes by “17” in the studio, and his debut EP “More to Life” drops April 9 with features from Fido, 24AM, SPKS, and Giddi. Track 0 is already out.
Alex Iwobi isn’t just a footballer anymore. The Super Eagles and Fulham midfielder is dropping his debut EP “More to Life” on April 9, 2026, and judging by the lead single “Track 0” that just dropped, he’s taking this music thing seriously.
The 9-track project features Fido, 24AM, SPKS, Giddi, and more artists across a sound Iwobi describes as “luxe rap”, composed of confident bars about success, growth, and fresh beginnings. He performs under the moniker “17,” a reference to his Fulham shirt number.
For a footballer who’s played for Arsenal, Everton, and now Fulham while representing Nigeria at the World Cup and multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, adding “rapper” to the resume sounds ambitious. But Iwobi has been freestyling since school and creating music for eight years. He just waited until now to release it publicly.
“Track 0,” produced by EM1X, is the first taste of what “More to Life” will sound like. The single delivers reflective bars about navigating dual paths across football and music, with gratitude woven throughout.
Iwobi currently has 16.2K monthly listeners on Spotify. His debut single “Don’t Shoot” (June 2024) accumulated close to 60,000 streams. “What’s Luv?” featuring SPKS and MBrown dropped in October 2024. But “More to Life” represents a new level of commitment.
This is Jay-Jay Okocha’s nephew building a legitimate second career.
Why Alex Iwobi is different from other footballers trying music
Most footballers who release music do it for the flex. A single, a music video, then back to football.
Iwobi is different. He’s been working on music for years, quietly building his craft while playing Premier League football. He delayed releasing “Don’t Shoot” until the off-season to avoid criticism. He had a song with former Everton teammate Amadou Onana ready, but held it back, fearing backlash.
That caution shows how seriously he takes both careers. He’s not treating music as a side hustle.
“You shouldn’t be ashamed to express yourself,” Iwobi told ESPN. “If you wanna focus on football, feel free, but at the same time, there’s more to life. You are who you are. For me, I enjoy music, fashion, and giving back to communities.”
That philosophy is reflected in the EP’s title: “More to Life.” Football is what he does for a living. Music is part of who he is.
The featured artists suggest Iwobi is building real relationships in the industry. SPKS already appeared on “What’s Luv?” and is back for the EP alongside Fido, 24AM, Giddi. These aren’t random celebrity features; they’re artists Iwobi is actually working with.
Juggling Premier League and studio sessions
The timing is interesting. Iwobi is releasing “More to Life” mid-season while still playing for Fulham in the Premier League. Training sessions, match prep, travel, and studio time all at once.
It’s a balancing act most people couldn’t handle. But Iwobi has been doing it for years, creating music while playing top-level football for Arsenal, Everton, and Fulham, while representing Nigeria at the World Cup and AFCON.
The difference now is that he’s finally letting people hear it.
“Track 0” sets the tone: reflective, composed, confident. Iwobi isn’t trying to sound like anyone else. He’s carving out his own lane where sport, culture, and music intersect.
On April 9, we’ll find out if the full EP lives up to the hype. But if “Track 0” is any indication, Jay-Jay Okocha’s nephew isn’t playing around.
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