Newsround: Haaland buzzcut stuns City ahead of new season
Erling Haaland has ditched his famous long blonde hair for a military-style buzzcut, posting "New season, new trim" ahead of Manchester City's Premier League opener. In this newsround, the 26-year-old's cut drew viral reactions from Pep Guardiola, Jack Grealish and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Key Takeaways
- Haaland revealed a fresh shaven buzzcut on social media with the caption "New season, new trim."
- The Manchester City striker, 26, unveiled the look before City faced Bournemouth in the Premier League.
- Jack Grealish, Noel Gallagher and Pep Guardiola all praised the change on video calls; Zlatan Ibrahimovic was far less impressed.
- Haaland had not worn short hair since his Borussia Dortmund days and had previously cited Ibrahimovic's advice to keep long locks.
The Norwegian forward turned the haircut into content, sharing before-and-after footage and reaction calls that quickly spread among fans. For more viral culture coverage, visit our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.
What did Haaland change and when did he reveal it?
Haaland shed the long blonde hair that defined his rise as one of football's most recognisable stars. BBC Sport reported he posted the reveal with the line "New season, new trim," while Sky Sports noted a further X post captioned "New hair don't care."
The reveal came on Sunday morning ahead of Manchester City's Premier League curtain-raiser against Bournemouth at the Etihad, with kick-off at 14:00 BST. City begin the post-Pep Guardiola era under new head coach Enzo Maresca, and Haaland remains the focal point of the attack.
Before the cut, he joked through earlier career styles and looked nervous as the first strands fell, then smiled as the buzzcut took shape. Sky Sports said the shorter style echoes his early Borussia Dortmund years; BBC Sport added he had not had short hair since then.
How did Guardiola, Grealish and Gallagher react?
Haaland video-called famous faces after the trim. Gallagher told him: "You look about 17 years old. It's good. Change is good." Grealish said he loved it but joked: "You look about 10 years old. That is hilarious. I can't stop looking at the front of your hair. I love it."
Guardiola needed a beat to process the look. "No way. You're lucky you have hair. I would love to have it. I love it," the former City manager said, a line Sports Illustrated called the standout moment of the reveal tour. Haaland reportedly saved Guardiola for last, telling viewers: "Last but not least, Pep."
Sports Illustrated also noted Haaland arrived for the Bournemouth fixture wearing a cap, briefly keeping the new look under wraps in person even after the social posts.
Why did Zlatan Ibrahimovic push back on the buzzcut?
Haaland had joked that Ibrahimovic once told him never to cut his long hair because "your strength is in your hair," and that he wanted "a buzz cut, like in the military." Sky Sports linked that advice to a July Fox Sports interview in which Haaland repeated the same Zlatan warning.
When the call came, Ibrahimovic was not impressed. According to BBC Sport, he asked: "What did you do? You lost a bet or what? Block me and erase my number." The clash between folklore-style hair advice and Haaland's new military trim became a central beat of the newsround.
Haaland's profile has only grown since helping Norway to the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals, scoring seven goals and gaining more than 32 million Instagram followers during the tournament, per Sky Sports. The buzzcut ensures his first competitive look of the Premier League season will be as much about image as goals.