Fans didn't hold back the moment Erling Haaland's new buzzcut hit Instagram. 'WTF ARE U SERIOUS??' read one reply, while Jude Bellingham could only manage a stunned 'no way'. Another fan summed up the mood as 'we lost a baddie'. Manchester City's own account tried to lighten things with 'New season, new hair', but the majority of the comments were still upset about the drastic transformation.
Haaland shaved off the long blonde hair and signature bun that defined his 2026 World Cup run, the same day City kicked off their post-Guardiola era at home to Bournemouth. Posting the transformation just hours before kickoff turned a simple grooming choice into the weekend's biggest talking point, with fans debating whether the timing was a coincidence or a deliberate statement as the club entered a new chapter.
Why Did Erling Haaland Cut His Hair?
'This beautiful blonde hair, time to let it go,' Haaland said, explaining he had been weighing up the chop since the World Cup ended, but the packed schedule kept getting in the way.
With a proper fresh start needed heading into a new season under new management, he went for a buzzcut he compared to something out of the military, then doubled down by pointing out that Vikings always cut their hair short anyway.
For a player whose bun had become as recognisable as his goal celebrations, the decision to shed it entirely marks one of the more striking image changes seen from a top footballer in recent memory, and one that arrived with almost no warning to fans or teammates.
Zlatan's Reaction to Haaland's Buzzcut
Zlatan Ibrahimovic video called Haaland the moment he saw the new look and did not soften the blow. 'Oh, my God, what the f*ck is this? You lost a bet or what?' he said, before adding, 'Block me and erase my number, my friend.'
Ibrahimovic had previously warned Haaland never to touch his hair, insisting his strength was tied up in it, a line straight out of the Samson myth. Haaland admitted the warning had genuinely got to him, confessing 'I'm a bit nervous' before going through with it'.
@overtime I think Zlatan likes it 🤣 @Erling Haaland #haaland #haircut #zlatanibrahimovic #football #erlinghaaland
♬ original sound - Overtime
Jack Grealish took the gentler route, joking his teammate looked 'about 10 years old' with the new cut, while Pep Guardiola sidestepped the debate entirely. 'You are lucky you have hair,' he told Haaland. 'I would love to have it.'
Not every reaction has been negative either, with at least one fan admitting online that 'actually it turned out pretty good', alongside Haaland's own insistence that he has 'no regrets, never'.
Man City Season Outlook
Football has never been short on players who treat their look as part of their armour, and Haaland buying into the Samson comparison raises the stakes even further. He had no time to ease into the new look, taking to the pitch against Bournemouth the very day the photos dropped, and every touch he took in that game was always going to be read through the lens of the haircut.
Supporters may still be mourning the bun, but Haaland has made clear he sees the buzzcut as armour rather than a loss, and City's early results this season will decide whether that confidence was justified.
