‘I must confess’ – Okocha explains nephew Iwobi’s early Everton troubles
Former Bolton Wanderers star Jay-Jay Okocha has explained that Alex Iwobi’s slow start to life as an Everton player was due to his shock Arsenal exit.
Iwobi completed an 11th hour switch from the Emirates to Goodison Park on transfer deadline day in the summer of 2019, signing for an initial £28million.
Though the Nigeria international featured regularly in his first season on Merseyside, playing 25 times in the Premier League [Transfermarkt], his inconsistent form put his long-term future in doubt.
The 24-year old has become a more pivotal player for Everton in his second season, though he has still only managed 15 starts from his 25 league appearances so far [WhoScored].
Speaking exclusively to Goal, Nigeria legend and Iwobi’s uncle Okocha explained that his nephew’s heartbreak at leaving his boyhood club saw him suffer in his debut season on Merseyside.
Okocha said: “I must confess that the move from Arsenal to Everton wasn’t an easy one from him. He wasn’t expecting it, it just happened.
“He got a call that there’s a deal for him and that he must oblige that deal, which wasn’t easy for a young player who has played all his life at Arsenal.
“I think that must have taken him 12 months to get over, so he didn’t have the best season last year with Everton.
“You can see that now he’s a bit more comfortable. He has finally realised that Liverpool is his home now.”
All behind him
By all accounts it seems as though Everton’s offer to bring Iwobi to Goodison Park was accepted late on transfer deadline day, but the idea that the player’s subsequent heartbreak at leaving caused him to play poorly just doesn’t sit right.
Iwobi suffered most last season because Everton didn’t really know what to do with him. The Nigerian played on the right, on the left and through the centre for the Toffees, and because he was constantly shifted from position to position he could never settle.
Individually his performance levels were never at the required standard. Iwobi scored just once in his first season in royal blue, while he failed to register a single assist. Lack of confidence might have played a role, but uncertainty over his role didn’t help matters.
Iwobi has improved this season, even though his position has been equally makeshift. Still he has a long way to go until he meets his potential.
As he continues to improve under Ancelotti we hope to see him establish himself in a specialist role within the Italian’s plans, but for now weekly improvements are a must.
In other Everton news, Gylfi Sigurdsson is determined to see out his contract at Goodison Park despite Everton’s desire to sell him this summer.