‘I think I will cry’

Erling Haaland has undergone one of his most dramatic transformations yet, saying goodbye to the long blond locks that have become almost as recognizable as his goal celebrations.

The Manchester City striker unveiled a dramatically shorter hairstyle ahead of the club’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth, documenting the entire transformation in a new YouTube video.

And nobody appeared quite prepared for the change, least of all his longtime girlfriend, Isabel Haugseng Johansen.

“I think I will cry,” the 22-year-old admitted as Erling settled into the barber’s chair and prepared to part with the Viking-inspired hairstyle he has sported throughout his four years at Manchester City.

As the first sections were cut away, Isabel could be heard yelping before staring at the blond hair in her hands and exclaiming: “Oh my God.”

Erling Haaland unveils dramatic new look

Erling, 26, initially opted for a shorter blond bob before going even further and having his hair transformed into a close-cropped buzz cut.

The finished look left Isabel visibly stunned. She covered her mouth with her hands before repeatedly declaring: “Oh my God.”

Fortunately for the soccer star, her verdict was ultimately a positive one. “It looks nice. You look cute,” she told him.

“Cute?” Erling replied, appearing less than thrilled by the description as he joked that he had been aiming for something a little tougher.

Isabel was equally amused by how different her boyfriend looked, adding: “I’ll wake up in the morning and think, who’s that?”

The transformation is particularly striking given how closely Erling’s long blond hair has become associated with his public image.

The Norwegian international has experimented with the way he wears it over the years, frequently slicking it back or tying it into a bun for matches, but rarely straying from its trademark length.

Erling ignored Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s warning

It turns out Erling had even received a warning against making the chop from Swedish soccer legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Before going ahead with the haircut, Erling revealed that Zlatan had advised him not to cut it because “your strength is in your hair.”

The Manchester City star ultimately decided against taking his advice and seemed delighted by the prospect of surprising supporters when he stepped onto the pitch with his radically different appearance.

“Can’t wait for the fans to sing, ‘Who the [expletive] hell is that?'” he joked from the barber’s chair. “I want Man City fans to sing that.”

He then added: “Imagine if I score a header tomorrow.”

The haircut wasn’t the only transformation happening in the Haaland household. Isabel revealed her own freshly trimmed brunette locks on Instagram, writing: “A lil refresh for fall x.” One follower joked underneath the post: “Family haircut day.”

Erling Haaland and Isabel Haugseng Johansen’s relationship

Erling and Isabel’s relationship stretches back long before the striker became one of the biggest names in world soccer. The pair grew up in Bryne, Norway, and knew each other through the local soccer community. However, it was Isabel who later made the first move after Erling relocated to Germany to play for Borussia Dortmund.

“She sent me a message,” Erling previously revealed of how their romance began. “She was the one who checked me out. I wasn’t the one who checked her out.”

The famously private couple welcomed their first child, a son, in December 2024. They have chosen to keep their little boy away from the spotlight and have yet to publicly reveal his name or share a photograph showing his face.

Isabel has, however, become an increasingly familiar presence alongside Erling. The couple attracted plenty of attention during this summer’s World Cup as Isabel supported her boyfriend while Norway reached the quarterfinals.

They later swapped the soccer pitch for the front row when they attended Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Sartoria celebrations in Taormina, Sicily, where they were photographed sharing a kiss.

The couple also attended Jennifer Lopez’s concert in Sicily earlier this month, where Erling jokingly appeared unimpressed when 365 Days actor Michele Morrone stopped to speak to Isabel. For all his success on the pitch, Erling has previously made clear that home life is where he can switch off from the intensity of professional soccer.

Speaking about Isabel in an interview with TIME earlier this year, he explained that she understands the demands of his career because she played soccer herself growing up. “She knows I need to be alone and rest and focus on the game,” he said. “She knows.”

And judging by Isabel’s reaction to his latest transformation, she may need a little time to adjust to waking up beside Manchester City’s newly shorn number nine.