Erling Haaland has shocked football fans after he said goodbye to the long blonde hair that became one of his most recognizable features.
The Manchester City striker debuted a drastic buzz cut in a video posted on his Instagram on August 23, just hours before the club’s first Premier League match of the 2026/27 season.
But fans were far more interested in his face than his haircut as several joked that his lips looked different too.
Highlights
- Erling Haaland debuted a drastic buzz cut after years of sporting his signature long blonde locks.
- His girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen initially looked shocked by the transformation.
- Fans quickly debated on Haaland’s changed appearance.
“Has he had his lips filled too?” one person asked.
Erling Haaland finally chopped off his infamous long blonde hair
For years, Haaland’s long blonde hair has been almost as recognizable as his football skills. He wore it tied into a ponytail, pulled into a top knot, and left loose around his shoulders.
His hairstyle also became a huge part of his online image.
During the 2026 World Cup, pictures and videos of his hair spread across social media, and fans even joked about his hair ties and his Viking-like appearance.
That all changed on Sunday.
Haaland posted a video showing the haircut process. At the beginning, his hair was still long and reached well past his shoulders. He then went through several stages before ending up with a very short buzz cut.
The footballer explained that he had actually considered cutting it after the World Cup.
“I was thinking about doing this straight after the World Cup, but I was so busy so I didn’t do it,” he said. “[The] season starts now, so it’s time to get a fresh start.”
Haaland also admitted he was slightly nervous about losing his famous locks.
Part of that was because Zlatan Ibrahimović, a former Swedish footballer, had previously warned him not to cut his hair.
“Zlatan told me never cut your hair because your strength is in your hair, [so] I’m a bit nervous,” Haaland said.
The comment clearly referenced the famous biblical story of Samson, whose strength was connected to his hair.
Still, Haaland went ahead with the chop. He said he wanted something that looked tougher and described the style as a “buzzcut, as I’ve been in the military.”
He later captioned another post, “Short hair don’t care.”
Haaland’s girlfriend was also there while he got the haircut, and her first reaction was not exactly calm
Haaland’s girlfriend, Isabel Haugseng Johansen, was also there while he got the haircut.
When the barber started cutting off the long pieces, Johansen reportedly yelled, “Oh my god,” and admitted, “I think I will cry.”
Once Haaland had the buzz cut, she covered her mouth in shock.
After getting a better look at him, however, her reaction became much more positive.
“It looks nice. You look cute,” she told him.
Haaland apparently wanted a tougher appearance rather than a cute one. Johansen later joked that she might wake up and wonder who he was.
The new look also surprised some of Haaland’s football colleagues. Jack Grealish reportedly laughed and told him, “You look about 10 years old.”
Ibrahimović had an even stronger reaction.
“What the f* did you do? You lost a bet or what?”** he asked.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also reacted to the haircut, saying, “You are lucky to have hair. I would’ve loved to have it.”
Haaland had even imagined how City supporters might react when they saw him.
“Can’t wait for the fans to sing, ‘Who the f—ing hell is that?’” he joked.
He then added, “Imagine if I score a header tomorrow.”
As soon as Haaland’s clip went viral, his fans divided over his new look
Some fans were convinced the haircut made Haaland look younger. Others thought it completely changed his face.
One person wrote, “He looks more Swedish than Norwegian now, " while another joked, “Went from female, to boy band, to perfect, to a thug.”
Someone else was convinced the whole thing had to be fake: “This better be AI.”
His lips also became a talking point, with several people wondering whether Haaland had done something else to his appearance.
“His lips look even bigger,” one person asked.
Others were much more positive about the haircut.
“The short hair actually suits him really well, goes great with the shape of his head and just face in general.”
Another fan admitted, “Personally I'm in total shock.”
Someone else joked, “He did it for the memes.”
One particularly harsh commenter wrote, “Much better! Looked like an ugly girl with long hair. Now he looks more like a pretty boy.”
For some fans, though, the haircut was not simply about fashion. They were worried Haaland had removed his secret weapon.
“Erling, what did you do?” one fan wrote, while another joked, “I hope your super powers weren't linked to your locks.”
"Personally I am in total shock," wrote one netizen
