For decades, top-level football has been home to some of sport’s most memorable long hairstyles, from Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s signature mane to Gareth Bale’s flowing locks and Erling Haaland’s instantly recognizable blonde man bun. But as the 2026/27 Premier League season prepares to get underway, the Manchester City star has turned football fandom on its head with a dramatic new look that has already sparked conversation across the sport.
The Norwegian striker broke the news himself on his personal social media channels, where he shared behind-the-scenes content of his big cut alongside the simple message: “New season, new trim.” The chop marks Haaland’s first major style change since moving to Manchester City, and comes just days ahead of City’s opening fixture of the new campaign against Bournemouth, kicking off at 14:00 BST on Sunday. The 26-year-old will be hoping his fresh trim brings the same prolific goalscoring form that has made him one of the most dominant strikers in world football, as he looks to get his season off to a flying start at the Etihad Stadium.
Ahead of the final chop, Haaland shared playful throwback snaps of every hairstyle he has sported across his professional career, and even joked with fans about a number of wild potential cuts he considered before settling on his shorter style. Video footage captured the moment his hairdresser made the first snip: Haaland initially looked visibly nervous, but that nervousness quickly turned to amusement as the cut took shape, and he was soon grinning at his new reflection in the mirror.
To get immediate reactions from some of the biggest names in his life, Haaland placed surprise video calls to three key people after the cut: his Manchester City teammate Jack Grealish, Oasis frontman and lifelong City fan Noel Gallagher, and former City manager Pep Guardiola. Reactions to the new look were overwhelmingly positive from the trio. Noel Gallagher joked that the cut knocked a decade off Haaland’s age, saying: “You look about 17 years old. It’s good. Change is good.” Grealish was similarly enthusiastic, quipping: “You look about 10 years old. That is hilarious. I can’t stop looking at the front of your hair. I love it.” Guardiola, who knows Haaland’s game better than most after leading him to multiple Premier League and Champions League titles, added: “No way. You’re lucky you have hair. I would love to have it. I love it.”
The only dissenting voice came from Ibrahimovic, the man who previously advised Haaland to never part with his long locks. Before calling the Swedish legend, Haaland joked to fans: “Zlatan told me, never cut your hair, because your strength is in your hair. I’m a bit nervous. I want a buzz cut, like in the military.” True to his word, Ibrahimovic did not hold back when he saw the new cut, playfully teasing Haaland for ignoring his advice: “What did you do? You lost a bet or what? Block me and erase my number.”
The style marks Haaland’s first short haircut since his time playing for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, ending a multi-year run of the blonde man bun that became as recognizable to fans as his record-breaking goal tally. As the new season gets underway, all eyes will be on whether the new look signals another year of historic goalscoring for the City striker.