Erling Haaland Debuts Buzzcut in Manchester City Season Opener

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland debuted a dramatic buzzcut during his team's 2-1 Premier League opening victory against AFC Bournemouth on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The 26-year-old forward shaved off his iconic long blond hair ahead of the match.

Haaland revealed the new haircut in a YouTube video prior to the fixture, documenting the process alongside reactions from family, friends, and teammates. He also called former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on FaceTime following the haircut, who asked if he had lost a bet.

Despite taking five shots during the match, Haaland failed to find the net, ending his record of scoring in every Premier League opener he had previously played. Prior to Sunday, the striker had recorded seven goals in four season-opening appearances for Manchester City.

Haaland entered the 2026–2027 campaign with 112 goals and 24 assists in 133 career matches for Manchester City since joining the club ahead of the 2022–2023 season. Following the victory over Bournemouth, Manchester City and Haaland next take the field on Friday against Crystal Palace.