Erling Haaland has undergone a dramatic transformation to kick off the new season. In a move that shocked fans and teammates, the Manchester City striker has chopped off his iconic long blonde locks in favor of a short buzzcut.
The 26-year-old debuted his new look on social media on the morning of City’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth, posting a series of photos and a video documenting the moment he decided to part ways with his hair. “New season, new trim,” he captioned one post, adding a simple “Short hair don’t care” on another, highlighting his nonchalant attitude about the change.
The decision represents a major U-turn for Haaland. Before the World Cup, he had cited advice from legendary striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the reason for keeping his long hair, stating: “Zlatan told me: never cut your hair because the strength is in the hair”. When he called Ibrahimovic after the cut to show him the result, the former Sweden international was not impressed, jokingly asking if he had lost a bet and to block his number.
The transformation prompted mixed reactions from his inner circle. Manchester City teammates like Jack Grealish expressed their shock, joking that he looked “about 10 years old”. Former manager Pep Guardiola also laughed at the change, but was supportive of the new look.
