“I was away at AFCON and told I’d get two weeks extra, then they signed Nicolas Pépé” — Alex Iwobi explains how Arsenal let him go

Nigerian football star Alex Iwobi has opened up about how his exit from Arsenal F.C. happened, revealing that the decision came while he was still on holiday after the Africa Cup of Nations.

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Speaking about the experience during a podcast interview called High Performance, Iwobi said he had just finished a strong AFCON tournament when then Arsenal manager Unai Emery told him to take two extra weeks off.

While enjoying his holiday in Dubai with family, the club went ahead and signed winger Nicolas Pépé.

Iwobi said the move made him start wondering about his future at the club.

“I was away at AFCON. I had a good AFCON. I came back and Unai Emery told me to take two weeks extra and enjoy my holiday. I was in Dubai with my family and then they signed Nicolas Pépé. I thought, if you really want me, why are you signing another winger?”

The situation escalated when his agent informed him that Everton F.C. were interested in signing him.

Iwobi said he was in the ocean in Dubai with very little signal when his agent called to say Everton manager Marco Silva wanted to speak with him.

According to him, before he even had time to properly decide, Arsenal had already sent out his medical documents to Everton.

“Before I even had a chance to say yes or no, Arsenal basically said they don’t mind me going,” he said.

After speaking with his parents and sister, Iwobi eventually agreed to the move, saying he felt it was time to step out of his comfort zone.

However, he admitted the transition was difficult at first.

Iwobi revealed he initially stayed alone in a hotel in Liverpool for months and struggled with loneliness, adjusting to a new city, and being away from his family and friends.

“I’ve always been an Arsenal kid. Arsenal was all I knew. So going somewhere else and staying in a dark hotel room by myself… it was tough,” he said.

The Nigerian international eventually settled in and continued his career in the Premier League.