Haaland Claims Third Premier League Golden Boot with 27 Goals

Erling Haaland finished the season with 27 goals in 35 Premier League appearances, securing his third Golden Boot in four years. The Manchester City striker joins Alan Shearer and Harry Kane as the only players to have won the award three times.

Haaland did not feature in Manchester City's final game, a 2-1 home loss to Aston Villa, which marked Pep Guardiola's last match as City manager after a decade of success. Despite missing this fixture, Haaland's goal tally outpaced Brentford's Igor Thiago, who scored 22 goals and earned a call-up to Brazil's World Cup squad. Only Mohamed Salah and Thierry Henry have won the Golden Boot more times, with four each. Over the season, Haaland played 2,959 minutes in the league and scored 38 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions.

This season’s achievement adds to Haaland's previous Golden Boot wins, including the 2023-24 season when he also scored 27 goals. His record-breaking debut campaign in 2022-23 saw him net 36 goals, setting the highest single-season scoring record in Premier League history. Throughout his Manchester City career, Haaland has amassed 162 goals in 198 appearances and has won the Premier League twice.

Haaland’s influence was notably missed during a mid-season slump when he scored only once in seven games, from a penalty against Brighton. During that period, City secured just two wins, which contributed to losing the league title. He regained form late in the season with decisive goals against Liverpool and Arsenal. However, Manchester City dropped points against Everton and Bournemouth, allowing Arsenal to clinch their first league title in 22 years.

Looking forward, Haaland will focus on leading Norway at the upcoming World Cup. His contract with Manchester City runs until 2034. Following Guardiola’s departure, former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is expected to take over as City’s head coach, ushering in a new chapter for the club.