Erling Haaland, the formidable striker for Manchester City and Norway, has made headlines with a striking change to his appearance. Known for his long blond locks that contributed to his ‘Viking’ persona, Haaland chose to chop them off just as the 2026/27 Premier League season kicked off. The 26-year-old unveiled his new short hairstyle on August 23, right before Manchester City’s match against Bournemouth, captioning the transformation on social media with ‘New season, new trim.’
Haaland’s decision to cut his hair wasn’t driven by any dramatic event. Instead, he expressed a desire for a fresh start, having contemplated the change since the 2026 World Cup but delaying it due to his busy schedule. His girlfriend, Isabel Haugseng Johansen, was present for the haircut and humorously remarked about shedding tears over the loss of his famous hair.
The haircut sparked light-hearted comments from the football community. Zlatan Ibrahimović teased Haaland about losing a bet, a nod to his prior jest that Haaland’s hair was a source of strength. Even former City manager Pep Guardiola and teammate Jack Grealish had their fun, with Grealish quipping that the new haircut made Haaland look younger.
Fans got their first glimpse of Haaland’s new look at the Etihad Stadium during the Bournemouth match, where he initially concealed his hair under a cap. Despite not scoring, Haaland’s team secured a 2-1 victory with a late comeback. The change in his appearance quickly became one of the talking points of the Premier League’s opening weekend, marking the end of an era for one of football’s most recognizable figures.
