‘It’s a true art form’: Maduka Okoye on fashion, Udinese and Nigeria

According to the Guardian, Udinese and Nigeria goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has opened up about his growing interest in high fashion after attending Paris fashion week. The former Watford player took his seat in the front row at the Jean Paul Gaultier show alongside rapper Cardi B, and footage of his appearance quickly spread across TikTok and Instagram, where his audience now approaches two million followers.

Okoye says the moment was not about celebrity or status, but about discovering a genuine passion. “Being at the Paris fashion week was really impressive,” he told the Guardian. “It was my first time really coming into contact with high fashion, and it was fascinating. It’s a true art form. I enjoyed it immensely, and since that moment I’ve become a much bigger fan of fashion than I was before.”

In the interview, Okoye also reflects on his time at Udinese, the lessons he took from the World Cup and the unfinished business he still feels in his career, though the Guardian does not go into further detail on those topics.

Readers can catch up with highlights of Okoye’s performances for club and country on this site.