It's a radical change of look for Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker has decided to cut off the long blond hair that had become one of his trademarks. At 26, the Norwegian has abandoned his long locks and his now-famous topknot for an extremely short haircut, unveiled just before the start of the new Premier League season. The change is dramatic. Accustomed for several years to wearing his hair long, often tied back during matches, Haaland now sports a very short, almost military-style cut.
"New season, new haircut"
Erling Haaland didn't keep the surprise for long. On Sunday, August 23, just hours before Manchester City's first Premier League match against Bournemouth, the striker revealed his transformation himself. He documented his trip to the hairdresser in a video posted on his social media and YouTube, titled " New Season, New Hair!! " The Norwegian first appears with his long blond hair before switching to a very short cut. Accompanying the initial images, Haaland summed up the change in a few words: "New season, new trim ." He then posted more photos with the tagline "Short hair, don't care . "
His partner warns that she might "cry".
The decision didn't go unnoticed by those close to him. Even before the first snips of the clippers were made, his partner, Isabel Haugseng Johansen, discovered what the player was about to do. The young woman didn't hide her surprise and joked that she might cry when she saw the Norwegian's long hair disappear. Haaland, for his part, explained that he had been considering this transformation for some time. The striker had notably thought about cutting his hair after the 2026 World Cup, before finally waiting until the start of the new season with Manchester City to take the plunge.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic discovers the new Haaland
Once the haircut was finished, Erling Haaland amused himself by showing off his new look to several close friends and family members via video call. Among them was Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The former Swedish striker's reaction was immediate. Ibrahimovic joked that Haaland might now be faster. The Norwegian also recounted that Zlatan had previously advised him to keep his hair, humorously attributing some of his "strength" to it. This was an obvious reference to the character of Samson, whose power disappears after his hair is cut.
Pep Guardiola is stunned by his new haircut
Pep Guardiola also discovered his striker's transformation. The Spanish coach expressed his surprise at seeing Haaland with an almost shaved head. Guardiola quickly joked about his own hair situation, pointing out to the Norwegian that he at least had enough hair to decide whether to cut it. Reactions also poured in from the football world and on social media, where the disappearance of the striker's long blond hair was immediately commented on.
A hairstyle that has become inseparable from Haaland
Since arriving at Manchester City in 2022, Erling Haaland's long hair had gradually become part of his image. The Norwegian usually wore it tied back in a bun during matches, but regularly let it down for celebrations or after games. With his imposing physique and blond hair, this look had notably earned him numerous comparisons to a Viking. An image widely adopted by Manchester City, the media, and the fans. This time, the "Viking" has taken out the clippers.
A new look to kick off the season with Manchester City
Haaland debuted his new haircut on Sunday during Manchester City's Premier League match against Bournemouth. The Citizens won 2-1 in their first league game of the 2026-2027 season. The hair transformation comes as the Norwegian international remains the linchpin of Manchester City's attack. Last season's Premier League top scorer, he is still tied to the English club by the massive contract signed in January 2025, which runs until 2034. After several years with long hair, Erling Haaland thus begins the 2026-2027 season with a completely different look. On social media, one thing is already clear: even before making headlines for his goals, the Norwegian has managed to make his haircut one of the first striking images of the new Premier League season.
