Haaland sheds his signature blond locks ahead of City's Premier League opener

Erling Haaland has swapped his trademark long blond hair for a close-cropped cut just days before Manchester City begin their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth on Sunday.

The Norway striker documented the transformation on Instagram and YouTube, captioning his posts “Short hair, don’t care” and “New season, new trim.” In a video accompanying the reveal, Haaland explained the thinking behind the change: “This beautiful blond hair, time to let it go. I was thinking about doing it straight after the World Cup but it was so busy so I didn’t do it. The season starts now so it’s time to get a fresh start and everything.”

The process was not without a moment of suspense. Haaland shared images mid-cut showing a curtains style that raised a few eyebrows, before the barber delivered a clean, short finish. The striker added that he had requested something close to a buzz cut — “like I’ve been in the military” — though the final result was a tidier, more conventional crop.

Haaland also revealed he had received a warning before going under the scissors. “The only thing is Zlatan told me to ‘never cut your hair because your strength is in your hair’,” he said. “I’m a bit nervous.” The reference to Zlatan Ibrahimović drew a reaction online, where Manchester City’s official account replied with a simple “Nice” and former Chelsea defender John Terry liked the post.

Practically speaking, the new cut means Haaland will no longer need to tie his hair back during matches — a small but noticeable change for one of the most recognisable figures in European football. Whether it affects his output on the pitch when City face Bournemouth remains to be seen.