When Erling Haaland’s public life is dominated by goals, records, and headlines, few know much about the young woman quietly standing beside him.
Isabel Haugseng Johansen is the partner of Manchester City’s prolific Norwegian striker, and while her name may not dominate tabloids in the way his does, her story is nonetheless compelling.
Isabel Haugseng Johansen was born in July 2004, making her 21 years old by mid-2025. She grew up in Bryne, Norway, and thanks to her own athletic credentials, has managed to forge a path that runs roughly parallel to Haaland’s.
The two met many years ago at the youth set-up of Bryne FK, where Haaland began his footballing journey and where Isabel also played. Given this shared origin, their relationship has been shaped as much by roots and familiarity as by the bright lights of top-tier football.
A relationship built on simplicity
Despite Haaland’s meteoric rise, through clubs such as Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund, and now Manchester City, the relationship has remained relatively low-key. They are rarely the cover story of tabloids, and that appears to be by design.
In an anecdote that captures the modest domestic side of their life, Haaland once revealed:
“This will probably sound a bit embarrassing to her, but she likes to play [games]. So we play Minecraft together. We build houses and all that. Or we go home to Bryne and order kebabs.”
With that statement, he offers a window into a world far removed from luxury cars, multimillion-pound contracts, and stadium spotlights. It suggests that their bond is grounded in ordinary pleasures, shared hobbies, simple comforts, and an uncomplicated retreat from the demands of top-flight sport.
Isabel’s own journey
Isabel’s career has been modest by global comparison yet significant in her local context. She played for the women’s senior side at Bryne FK and has also worked part-time in a fashion store.
As Haaland climbed into the footballing elite, her presence remained steady, supportive, and behind-the-scenes.
Their long acquaintance and shared footballing background likely helped sustain the relationship through transitions, moves abroad, press attention, and the changing demands of elite sport.
Parenthood and new beginnings
In late 2024, the couple welcomed their first child, a son whose name they have kept private. The revelation came via an interview given by Haaland’s coach, Pep Guardiola, who said, “He’s become a father for the first time in the last few days.”
That milestone added a further dimension to their story — two young people who met in a small Norwegian town, forged careers in football, and now face one of life’s most permanent transitions together.
Despite the public nature of Haaland’s profession, and despite episodes of international acclaim and celebrity, the couple have exercised a degree of discretion. Their relationship became more visible in 2022, when they were first photographed together on holiday in Marbella, Spain.
Since then, appearances such as the red-carpet event for the Ballon d’Or ceremony and fashion show outings have hinted at a carefully managed public life.
In 2025, the pair attended a high-profile fashion show in Rome for Dolce & Gabbana, signaling Isabel’s growing comfort in select public settings.
A bond beyond fame
As for Haaland, his public comments on the relationship reflect a sense of groundedness uncommon in the world of football stardom. He once admitted:
“She sent me a message. She played for the same club as me, Bryne. She was the one who checked me out — I didn’t check her out.”
This light-hearted admission reinforces that their connection predates his fame and that the dynamics between them are rooted in shared beginnings rather than celebrity status.
Isabel’s transition to motherhood has been relatively private. While she stepped away from active competition to focus on her new role as a mother and partner, she has also maintained a small social media presence, posting occasional holiday photos and glimpses of her life.
Meanwhile, Haaland continues to deliver on the pitch, and the interplay between his public success and their private life offers a compelling narrative: major sporting ambition balanced with the enduring value of home roots.
