Erling Haaland makes changes to his name in surprise announcement

Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has decided to incorporate another name on the back of his shirt when he plays for Norway.

Undoubtedly one of the best goalscorers in world football, Haaland has been known simply by his surname for Manchester City and the national side, but has decided to make a change.

The City No.9 will still have Haaland on his shirt when they take on Brighton this weekend in the Premier League. But it will change to Braut Haaland when he pulls on a Norway shirt in the upcoming September international break.

Norway play Finland in a friendly in Oslo on September 5, before taking on Moldova five days later inside the same stadium in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.

Erling Haaland looks during the FIFA 2026 Qualifier between Norway and Italy. (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)

The claim has been made by a retailer of Norway shirts, but Norway manager Stale Solbakken was unaware of the change when asked. “That’s his name [Braut], it’s no longer that difficult,” he said. “I knew nothing of it until now.”

While Haaland is the surname of his father, Alfe, who was also a professional footballer, Braut is his mother Gry Marita’s maiden name. She previously competed in the heptathlon for Norway and it is common in Norway for children to use the surnames of both parents.

The 25-year-old’s display name on Instagram reads Erling Braut Haaland and it seems as though he wants to honour both of his parents when he plays for his country. Haaland has a staggering 42 goals in 43 appearances for Norway so far – a tally which already makes him the country’s all-time leading scorer.

Haaland has also been banging in goals since he joined City in 2022 from Borussia Dortmund. He currently has 126 goals in just 148 games for the club, helping to win two Premier League titles, Champions League and FA Cup.