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

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.Make PUNCH part of your everyday experience.Add us to your Preferred Sources 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. Gilbert Ekugbe Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.

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