Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has done something that has caught the attention of millions. The Norwegian superstar said goodbye to his famous long blonde hair. He showed up with a completely new look right before his team’s first Premier League match of the season.
Haaland posted pictures and a video on his social media on Sunday, August 23, 2026. He shared the whole process of cutting his hair. The 26-year-old wrote “Short hair, don’t care” on Instagram. He also posted “New season, new trim” on X. The post got over 12 million likes on Instagram. People from all over the world are talking about his new haircut.
Haaland Had His Hair Long Since 2021
Haaland’s long blonde hair had become a big part of who he is. He had kept his hair long since 2021. He often tied it into a ponytail or bun during matches. This look made him stand out on the field. It added to his Viking-style image.
His hair got even more attention during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Norway reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 1998. Fans wore Haaland wigs and copied his style. There were even lookalike contests in Miami.
The hair change is a big move for Haaland. He had not sported short hair since his Borussia Dortmund days. That was before he joined City in 2022.
Haaland Was Nervous Before The Big Chop
Haaland shared his feelings before getting the haircut. He put out a six-minute YouTube video titled “New Season, New Hair!!”. In the video, he said he had been thinking about this for a while.
“This beautiful blond hair… time to let it go. I was thinking about doing it straight after the World Cup, but I was so busy so I didn’t do it. The season starts now so it’s time to get a fresh start.”
He admitted he was a bit nervous before the cut. His hairstylist also felt the pressure. She called it “the most expensive haircut of all time”. She said she was a little stressed because it was not a usual job.
Haaland told his hairstylist what he wanted. He said, “I want buzz cuts, like I’ve been in military”. He showed her photographs of buzz cuts. But he also had a small change of heart at one point. He shared a photo and said he was looking forward to having medium-length hair again.
Haaland Ignored Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Advice
This haircut goes against advice from a football legend. Zlatan Ibrahimovic had told Haaland to never cut his hair. The former Sweden star said the strength is in the hair.
Haaland mentioned this before the cut. He said, “The only thing is, Zlatan told me never cut your hair, because your strength is in your hair”.
When Ibrahimovic saw Haaland’s new look, he was not happy. He joked and said, “What did you do? You lost a bet or what? Block me and erase my number”.
Haaland laughed at this reaction. He seemed to enjoy the joke.
Friends And Teammates Had Mixed Reactions
Haaland called many friends to show his new haircut. Their reactions were all over the place.
Jack Grealish, his Manchester City teammate, laughed when he saw it. He said, “You look about 10 years old. That is hilarious. I can’t stop looking at the front of your hair. I love it”.
Former City manager Pep Guardiola was also surprised. He said, “No way. You’re lucky you have hair. I would love to have it. I love it”.
Oasis singer Noel Gallagher got a FaceTime call from Haaland. He responded, “No way mate! When’ve you got that done? You look about 17 years old. Change is good”.
Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid star and former Dortmund teammate, simply commented “No way” on Haaland’s post.
Haaland’s girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen was in the room during the cut. She said, “I think I will cry” when the long locks started coming off. She yelped after the first few chunks were cut. But later she said, “It looks nice. You look cute”.
Haaland’s New Look Did Not Bring A Goal In Opening Match
Haaland walked onto the Etihad Stadium pitch with his new look. He played in Manchester City’s first Premier League game of the season against Bournemouth. The match happened on the same day he revealed his haircut.
City won the match 2-1. Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol scored the goals. Haaland missed several chances and did not score. His first appearance of the new season featured a new hairstyle but no goal.
This season is a new chapter for City. Pep Guardiola stepped down as manager at the end of last season. Enzo Maresca, the former Chelsea boss, has taken over.
Haaland has been the Premier League’s top scorer in three of his four seasons at City. He scored 27 goals in 35 league appearances last season. He has scored 162 goals in 199 appearances for City overall.
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Fans Are Divided Over The New Look
The internet had strong opinions about Haaland’s haircut. Some fans did not like the change.
One fan on X wrote, “Erling Haaland cutting his hair is worse than when Keri Russell cut her hair on Felicity, this looks so awful omg”. Another fan said, “THE VIKING ERA IS OVER”.
A different user wrote, “I’m gone for one hour, and Haaland has short hair”.
Others enjoyed the humor of the situation. Haaland himself made jokes about it. He posted “Short hair, don’t care”. He also imagined City fans singing “Who the f***ing hell is that?” when they see him.
Haaland’s personality has helped him become a global star. He often appears goofy and self-deprecating online. During the World Cup, he gained more than 32 million Instagram followers. He became one of the biggest social media stars of the tournament.
Even people who do not watch football now know who Haaland is. His hair was a big reason for that recognition. But he seems ready to move on.
The football world will now watch to see if his performances change with his new look. The new Premier League season has just begun, and Haaland is starting it with a fresh trim.
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