Erling Braut Haaland, born on July 21, 2000, is a highly talented Norwegian professional footballer renowned for his role as a striker for the Premier League’s Manchester City and the Norway national team. Widely regarded as one of the top players globally, his attributes include remarkable speed, strength, precise positioning, and a clinical finishing ability in front of the goal. In his inaugural season in the Premier League, Haaland made history by setting a new record for the most goals scored in a single season, tallying an impressive 36 goals.
Haaland has a strong history of representing Norway in various youth competitions. Notably, during the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he claimed the Golden Boot award after a remarkable feat of scoring an unprecedented nine goals in a single match. He took his first steps in senior international football in September 2019 and currently ranks as Norway’s second-highest all-time leading goal scorer.
Early Life
Erling Braut Haaland was born on July 21, 2000, in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. His birthplace is connected to his father, Alfie Haaland, who was a player for Leeds United in the Premier League at the time of Erling’s birth. However, when he was just three years old in 2004, Haaland’s family relocated to Bryne, their hometown in Norway.
From an early age, Haaland displayed a strong interest in sports, not limited to just football. He engaged in various other activities as a child, including handball, golf, and track and field. Remarkably, even at a young age, he achieved a world record for the standing long jump in his age group when he was only five years old, covering a distance of 1.63 meters in 2006.
Clubs: The Footballing Journey
Bryne
Erling Braut Haaland embarked on his football journey early, joining his hometown club Bryne’s Academy when he was just five years old. His talent quickly became evident as, during the 2015-2016 season, he showcased his skills with Bryne’s reserve team, impressively netting 18 goals in 14 matches. In May 2016, Bryne changed leadership as Gaute Larsen was dismissed, and youth coach Berntsen stepped up as the interim manager.
Berntsen, who had closely worked with Haaland in youth teams, recognized the youngster’s potential and granted him his first start in a second-tier 1 division match against Ranheim on May 12, three months before Haaland’s 16th birthday. Initially deployed as a winger, Haaland later found his niche as a central striker under Berntsen’s guidance. While he didn’t score during his breakthrough season at Bryne, Haaland’s promising talent caught the attention of German club 1899 Hoffenheim, who offered him a trial. However, he ultimately made the move to Molde, where he played under the tutelage of Ole Gunnar Solskjær. In total, Haaland made 16 senior appearances for Bryne before making his move to Molde.
Molde
On February 1, 2017, Molde made a significant announcement by signing the 16-year-old prodigy, Erling Braut Haaland. He swiftly made his presence felt, debuting in a Norwegian Cup match against Volda TI on April 26, where he marked his debut with a goal in a 3-2 victory. His introduction to the Eliteserien came on June 4, as he was subbed in during the 71st minute in a match against Sarpsborg 08 and earned a yellow card in just over a minute on the pitch.
Haaland’s breakthrough moment in the league arrived on August 6, 2017, when he netted the winning goal against Tromsø IL in the 77th minute, securing his first league goal. His second league goal followed on September 17, a crucial goal against Viking FK in a 3-2 win, although he faced criticism for his goal celebration from teammate Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson.
In his debut season at Molde, Haaland amassed four goals in 20 appearances. His meteoric rise continued into 2018 when, on July 1, he stunned with a four-goal performance in the first 21 minutes against league leaders Brann, guiding Molde to a 4-0 triumph. Molde’s manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, likened his style to Romelu Lukaku’s and revealed the club had rejected multiple offers for the young striker. Haaland continued to shine with a brace against Vålerenga and made his mark in UEFA competition with a penalty goal in a Europa League qualifying match against KF Laçi on July 26. He finished the 2018 season as Molde’s top scorer, with 16 goals in 30 matches across all competitions.
Red Bull Salzburg
Erling Braut Haaland’s football journey continued to rise as he joined Red Bull Salzburg, the Austrian Bundesliga champions, with a five-year contract starting from January 1, 2019. Before his move to Salzburg, there was interest from his father’s former club, Leeds United. Haaland made his debut for Salzburg in the 2018-19 Austrian Cup quarter-finals in February and scored his first goal in the Austrian Bundesliga in May.
During his time at Salzburg, Haaland had several standout moments. He achieved his first hat-trick for the club in a 7-1 Austrian Cup victory against SC-ESV Parndorf in July, followed by another hat-trick in a league match against Wolfsberger AC in August. He continued to impress with a third hat-trick against TSV Hartberg in September. Notably, in the UEFA Champions League, Haaland made an explosive impact, scoring three goals against Genk and becoming the first teenager to score in five consecutive Champions League matches.
By the end of his tenure at Salzburg, Haaland had netted a total of 29 goals, with 28 of them coming in just 22 appearances during the 2019-20 season. His remarkable performances attracted the attention of top European clubs.
Borussia Dortmund
Erling Braut Haaland’s transition to Borussia Dortmund in the 2019-20 season marked the start of an incredible chapter in his career. Despite strong interest from clubs like Manchester United and Juventus, Dortmund secured his signing in late December 2019 for around €20 million, with Haaland committing to a four-and-a-half-year contract.
Haaland made a scintillating debut for Dortmund on January 18, 2020, coming on as a substitute against FC Augsburg and astonishingly scoring a hat-trick in just 23 minutes during a 5-3 victory. This remarkable feat made him only the second player in Dortmund’s history, following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, to score a hat-trick on their Bundesliga debut. Haaland continued to shine with a series of incredible performances, becoming the first Bundesliga player to score five goals in his first two matches and earning the Bundesliga Player of the Month award in January.
In the 2019-20 Champions League campaign, he scored prolifically, recording ten goals in just eight appearances, in addition to his eight goals for Salzburg in the group stage. Despite his incredible efforts, Dortmund was eliminated from the competition.
Injuries moved him off the filed
The 2020-21 season witnessed Haaland’s sustained success, with him scoring goals consistently in the Bundesliga and the Champions League. His knack for finding the back of the net earned him the title of the fastest player to reach 15 Champions League goals, doing so in just 12 games. Haaland’s season was marked by notable moments, such as his brace against Sevilla in the Champions League and reaching 20 goals in the competition, becoming the youngest and quickest player to do so.
However, the 2021-22 season brought injury setbacks for Haaland, including hamstring and hip flexor issues. Despite these challenges, he continued to make his mark by setting records as the youngest player to reach 50 Bundesliga goals.
In May 2022, Dortmund announced Haaland’s departure to Premier League club Manchester City at the end of the season. Haaland bid farewell to Dortmund in style, scoring in his final appearance for the club against Hertha BSC. His time at Dortmund was marked by prolific goal-scoring, and he left as one of the most sought-after strikers in the world.
Manchester City
Erling Braut Haaland’s debut season with Manchester City in the 2022-23 campaign has been nothing short of remarkable. The Premier League club secured his services by activating his €60 million release clause in May 2022, with the formal deal coming into effect in June. Haaland made his competitive debut in the FA Community Shield on July 30, although City lost to Liverpool.
In the Premier League, Haaland immediately left his mark by scoring twice on his league debut against West Ham United. He went on to record his first Premier League hat-trick against Crystal Palace and achieved a perfect hat-trick in the following match against Nottingham Forest, becoming the quickest player in Premier League history to score two hat-tricks. His prolific form earned him the Premier League Player of the Month for August.
In the Champions League, Haaland made a stunning debut for City by scoring a brace against Sevilla and becoming the first player to score 25 goals in their first 20 Champions League appearances. His acrobatic effort against former club Borussia Dortmund sealed a comeback victory, with the goal being named the Champions League Goal of the Week and later awarded Goal of the Season.
Haaland’s goal-scoring exploits continued in the Premier League, breaking numerous records. He became the first player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick in three successive home games, reached 20 goals in just 14 league matches, and surpassed the top scorers of the previous season, Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min.
Haaland shines in Man City
In the Champions League, Haaland achieved a historic feat by scoring five goals in a single match against RB Leipzig, tying the record for the most goals in a single Champions League game. He also broke Tommy Johnson’s club record for the most goals in a single season for City. Haaland further cemented his legacy by breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy and Mohamed Salah’s record for the most goals across all competitions in a Premier League season.
His sensational debut season earned Haaland numerous accolades, including the Premier League Golden Boot, the European Golden Shoe, and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year. Manchester City clinched the Premier League title, and with their victory in the Champions League final, they became only the second English side to achieve a continental treble. Haaland’s debut season will be remembered as one of the most prolific in Premier League history, with 36 goals in 35 appearances, setting a new record for the highest number of goals in a Premier League season.
The Current Season
In the 2023-24 season, Erling Braut Haaland continued his goal-scoring prowess for Manchester City. He kicked off the Premier League campaign with a brace in a 3-0 victory over Burnley. Haaland played a key role in City’s victory over Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup, even though he didn’t score in the match, converting the first penalty in the shootout.
His outstanding performances earned him the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, and he was included in the PFA Team of the Year for the Premier League. Haaland’s goal-scoring feats continued with a seventh club hat-trick plus an assist against Fulham, making him the quickest player to achieve 50 Premier League goal contributions.
In the Champions League, Haaland opened his account for the season with two goals against BSC Young Boys and then recorded two goals and an assist in a Manchester derby win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. He was also presented with the prestigious Gerd Müller Trophy at the 2023 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony.
Erling Haaland Family
Erling Braut Haaland hails from a sporting family. His father is Alfie Haaland, a former professional football player who notably represented Leeds United in the Premier League. His mother, Gry Marita Braut, was a former women’s heptathlon athlete. Among his siblings, Erling is the youngest, with an older brother named Astor and an elder sister named Gabrielle.
Erling Haaland Girlfriend
In the realm of personal relationships, as of 2022, Haaland has been romantically linked with Isabel Haugseng Johansen, a fellow young footballer who used to play for the same football club in their hometown of Bryne, further connecting their shared passion for the sport.
Erling Haaland Net Worth
Erling Haaland, despite his youth, has amassed an impressive net worth of approximately $40 million. As the sixth-highest-paid soccer player globally, his financial success may surprise some, but it’s a testament to his exceptional skills, passion, and on-field talent. Haaland’s income is sourced from various streams, with endorsements playing a significant role. He secures around $4 million from endorsement deals with notable sponsors such as Hyperice, Viaplay, and Samsung. Additionally, he’s in line for a lucrative shoe deal, estimated at approximately $18 million, following the expiration of his previous Nike contract earlier this year. Furthermore, his annual salary amounts to approximately $10 million, further contributing to his substantial net worth.
Erling Haaland Stats
Club:
| Club | Season | Apps | Goals |
| Bryne 2 | 2015 | 3 | 2 |
| 2016 | 11 | 16 | |
| Bryne | 2016 | 16 | 0 |
| Molde 2 | 2017 | 4 | 2 |
| Molde | 2017 | 20 | 4 |
| 2018 | 30 | 16 | |
| Red Bull Salzburg | 2018-19 | 5 | 1 |
| 2019-20 | 22 | 28 | |
| Borussia Dortmund | 2019–20 | 18 | 16 |
| 2020–21 | 41 | 41 | |
| 2021–22 | 30 | 29 | |
| Manchester City | 2022-23 | 53 | 52 |
| 2023-24 | 35 | 29 | |
| Total | 2015-24 | 288 | 236 |
International:
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Norway | 2019 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | 5 | 6 | |
| 2021 | 8 | 6 | |
| 2022 | 8 | 9 | |
| 2023 | 5 | 6 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 28 | 27 | |
Erling Haaland has achieved a remarkable list of honors and awards throughout his career. He won the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup during his time with Red Bull Salzburg. At Borussia Dortmund, he secured the DFB-Pokal. After his move to Manchester City, he clinched the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup. On the international stage, he has the Syrenka Cup with Norway U17.
Individually, Haaland has received numerous accolades, including the European Golden Shoe, FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Boot, and various Player of the Month and Player of the Season awards in the Bundesliga and Premier League. He has also been named in several UEFA Champions League Teams of the Season and received the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award, among many others.