From Salah to Iwobi: African players with most appearances in EPL history

Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi has etched his name deeper into Premier League history, moving into second place among African players for all-time appearances.

In a post obtained from the Premier League’s X handle on Sunday, the Nigeria international recently reached and then surpassed Mohamed Salah’s tally, climbing to sole second on the list behind only Ivory Coast legend Kolo Touré.

Touré holds the record with 353 appearances across spells at Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool. Iwobi now sits on 328–329 appearances, with Salah on 328.

Iwobi achieved the landmark during Fulham’s recent Premier League fixtures, including a 1-0 victory over Coventry City in late October 2026 in which he made his 328th appearance. Subsequent outings confirmed his move clear of the Egypt and Liverpool star.

The 30-year-old’s total has been built across three clubs: 100 appearances for Arsenal (where he came through the academy and made his Premier League debut in 2015), 123 for Everton, and more than 100 for Fulham since joining in 2023.

Iwobi is also the Nigerian record holder in the competition, having earlier overtaken Shola Ameobi’s previous mark of 298. He remains approximately 25 appearances short of matching Touré’s overall African record.

The full top of the African appearance rankings currently reads:

Kolo Touré (Ivory Coast) – 353

• EPL: Glasner raises doubts over Nottingham Forest future
• Awoniyi ends drought to power Coventry win
• Leeds get Zaidu worry ahead Jan transfer

Alex Iwobi (Nigeria) – 328–329

Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – 328

Jordan Ayew (Ghana) – 305

Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast) – 305

Shola Ameobi (Nigeria) – 298

Iwobi’s consistency and longevity have made him one of the most reliable African performers in the Premier League over the past decade. Still active and a regular for both Fulham and the Super Eagles, he has a realistic chance of closing the gap on Touré’s record in the seasons ahead.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.