By TARA ANSON-WALSH, FOOTBALL REPORTER
Published: 09:10 EST, 16 December 2025 | Updated: 09:10 EST, 16 December 2025
A certain Premier League footballer has been delivering the goods in more ways than one this Christmas, dressing up as Santa Clause to the delight of his club’s young and adoring fans.
The 25-year-old has been instrumental in keeping his side in close touch with Premier League leaders Arsenal this season, scoring 17 goals in the opening 16 games.
If that was not a big enough clue to the identity of our festive footballer, perhaps the reveal that his father once played for the same club will help narrow it down.
Yes, you guessed it. The player who donned the Santa suit was none other than Manchester City’s Norwegian goal machine, Erling Haaland.
The Etihad favourite – who previously dressed up as the Joker for Halloween – revealed his love for Christmas in his latest YouTube video, praising the ‘authentic’ red-and-white outfit as he took to the streets of Manchester to spread festive cheer.
‘I love Christmas, I love the cosiness of Christmas – sitting inside and being with family and friends,’ he said.
The Etihad favourite – who previously dressed up as the Joker for Halloween – revealed his love for the festive season in his latest YouTube video, praising the ‘authentic’ red-and-white outfit
Determined to conceal his identity better than during his Joker outing, Haaland even toyed with deploying a Scouse accent and admitted he was nervous before knocking on the first door
Haaland was helped by a make-up artist, who applied bushy white eyebrows and beard, along with the rosy red cheeks of the North Pole’s most famous resident.
He then stuffed a large pillow under his coat and headed out into the Manchester evening.
Determined to conceal his identity better than during his Joker outing, Haaland even toyed with a Scouse accent and admitted he was nervous before knocking on the first door, ‘like before a game’.
When one child confessed to being a Manchester United fan, Haaland-as-Santa quipped: ‘He’s on the naughty list. It must be hard for United fans these days.’
Bedlam ensued when Haaland pulled down his beard, with one youngster pretending to faint with excitement.
At the second house, he was recognised instantly, with one child saying: ‘I’ve heard your voice on TV so I knew it was you.’
Haaland replied: ‘I need to work on the accent – that’s the problem.’
All in a good day’s work for the superstar, who scored a brace against Palace this weekend
The striker was quickly identified again at the final house, his distinctive Scandinavian accent giving him away once more.
Asked what City need to do to win the league this season, one youngster replied: ‘Pass it to you,’ prompting Haaland to laugh at the camera and say: ‘Smart kid.’
All in a good day’s work for the superstar, who capped the weekend by scoring a brace as City beat Crystal Palace 3-0.