(VIDEO) Erling Haaland’s Girlfriend Reacts in Shock as Soccer Star Buzzes Off Signature Long Hair

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has traded his signature long blond hair for a short buzz cut, capturing the moment on video along with the surprised reaction of his girlfriend, Isabel Haugseng Johansen.

In a YouTube video posted Sunday, the 26-year-old Norwegian forward sat for the dramatic transformation as his hairstylist sectioned and cut away the locks that had become a recognizable part of his public image. Johansen, who has been dating Haaland since 2021, watched the process unfold and offered a series of candid responses.

“I think I will cry,” Johansen said early in the video as the haircut began. Later, holding a thick lock of the blond hair bound by a tie, she added, “Oh my god.”

She briefly left the room during the final stages of the buzz cut. Upon returning to see the finished result, her reaction was immediate. “Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God, darling!” she exclaimed. “It looks nice! I think you look cute.”

Haaland responded with a humorous challenge: “Cute?” Johansen then adjusted her assessment while holding his face between her hands. “You look really tough,” she said, before making a playful face toward the camera as if second-guessing the wording.

Johansen joked about the scale of the change. “I will wake up in the morning and be like, ‘Who’s that’?” she said. When Haaland asked whether she preferred the longer hair or the new short style, she answered, “Both?” He replied, “Good answer.”

Haaland framed the haircut as a deliberate reset. In the video and accompanying social media posts, he described it as preparation for the new season. “New season, new trim,” he wrote on Instagram alongside before-and-after images. He elaborated that he had considered the change immediately after the World Cup but delayed it because of a busy schedule. “Season starts now, so it’s time to get a fresh start,” he said.

The forward noted that he wanted a military-style cut. He also recalled advice from retired Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had once told him never to cut his hair because “your strength is in your hair,” a reference that Haaland linked to the biblical story of Samson. After the cut, Haaland shared reactions from others in his circle, including light-hearted responses from Ibrahimovic and Oasis musician Noel Gallagher, a known Manchester City supporter.

Haaland’s long hair had been a distinctive visual element throughout recent seasons and during the summer’s World Cup, where he drew widespread attention. The decision to remove it marks a visible shift as the Premier League campaign begins. He debuted the new look in Manchester City’s opening match, continuing his role as one of the league’s most prominent attacking players.

The video of the haircut and Johansen’s reactions circulated quickly among soccer fans and on social platforms. Many noted the contrast between the flowing style that had become familiar and the much shorter result. Haaland’s willingness to document the process, including the emotional and humorous exchanges with his girlfriend, added a personal dimension to what might otherwise have been a routine grooming update.

Johansen’s presence in the video underscored the couple’s long-term relationship. Their public appearances and occasional shared moments have occasionally drawn media interest, though both have generally kept personal details limited. Her progression from near-tears at the start of the cut to approving descriptions of “cute” and “tough” provided a light narrative arc within the short clip.

For Haaland, the change aligns with a pattern among athletes who alter their appearance at the start of a new campaign as a symbolic reset. High-profile players frequently use haircuts, new kit or training routines to signal a fresh mental approach after major tournaments. In this case, the visual impact was heightened by how closely the long blond hair had been associated with Haaland’s on-field identity.

Manchester City enters the season with expectations of contending at the top of the Premier League and in European competition. Haaland remains central to those ambitions as the team’s primary goal threat. The haircut itself carries no bearing on performance, yet it generated more immediate conversation than many routine preseason stories.

The video also captured intermediate stages of the process, including a temporary look with shorter bangs before the full buzz. Haaland posted additional selfies documenting those steps. The final result is a close-cropped style that contrasts sharply with the shoulder-length hair he had maintained for several years.

Public reaction mixed nostalgia for the previous look with acceptance of the new one. Some fans expressed mild disappointment at the loss of the distinctive long hair, while others welcomed the change as a clean, practical option for the physical demands of a long season. Haaland appeared unconcerned by the range of opinions, focusing instead on the personal meaning he attached to the timing.

Johansen’s final measured response — preferring both styles — reflected a pragmatic stance common in long-term relationships when one partner makes a visible change. Her initial emotional reaction and subsequent supportive comments illustrated the mix of surprise and affection that often accompanies such moments.

Haaland has built a reputation for direct communication with fans through social media and occasional video content. The decision to film the haircut and include his girlfriend’s unfiltered responses fits that approach. It offered supporters a brief, unpolished glimpse into a personal decision rather than a carefully staged announcement.

As the Premier League season progresses, attention will return to Haaland’s performances on the pitch. The buzz cut may fade as a topic once match results and goal tallies dominate discussion. For a brief period, however, the transformation and the accompanying reactions provided a light counterpoint to the usual focus on transfers, tactics and results.

The episode also highlighted how even routine personal choices by high-profile athletes can generate widespread interest. Haaland’s hair had become part of his recognizable brand. Removing it created a moment of novelty that fans, media and fellow players registered immediately.

In the video, the sequence from long hair to buzz cut unfolds with a mix of hesitation, humor and eventual acceptance. Johansen’s comments — from the fear of tears to the dual endorsement of “cute” and “tough” — gave the clip its memorable core. Haaland’s own explanation tied the change to the rhythm of the soccer calendar: a new season, a clean slate and a willingness to leave a familiar look behind.

Whether the shorter style remains for the full campaign or evolves further remains to be seen. For now, the Norwegian striker has marked the transition with a public, light-hearted record of the moment and the people closest to him reacting in real time.