Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has surprised fans by debuting a new hairstyle for the upcoming Premier League campaign. The Norwegian forward has opted for a buzz cut, abandoning his signature long hair.
Haaland revealed the change in a short Instagram video on Sunday morning. His new look will be on full display as Manchester City prepares to face Bournemouth in their Premier League opener. The 26-year-old striker has previously varied his hairstyle, sometimes wearing a ponytail and other times letting his hair flow, but this buzz cut represents a distinct aesthetic shift.
Reaction to the new hairstyle has included comments from former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who noted on his YouTube channel, "No way. You are lucky you have hair!" Zlatan Ibrahimović, a former Barcelona and Inter Milan star who once suggested Haaland's power stemmed from his long hair, questioned if the change was "for a bet." Teammate Jack Grealish also commented, admitting, "I can't stop looking at the top of your head."
Haaland concluded his summer break following Norway's quarter-final appearance in the World Cup. His off-season activities included time with Umar Kamani, founder of Pretty Little Thing, on a yacht in the French Riviera, and a boat trip around Sicily. During this period, he also met basketball legend Michael Jordan. Haaland had previously mentioned on Snapchat that his brain felt "fried" after playing 67 games for club and country last season, suggesting a need for rest.
In the Community Shield match against Arsenal last week, Haaland sported a ponytail and had limited impact, registering only 13 touches and no shots on target before being substituted. Manchester City lost that match 3-0 to Arsenal.
