Joshua Zirkzee's Style Transformation: From Fringe Forward to 90s Rap Aesthetic
Joshua Zirkzee is trying to rewrite the story before a ball has even been kicked.
On the pitch, the Manchester United forward is still searching for his place. Off it, he has decided exactly who he wants to be.
The 25-year-old, signed from Bologna in 2024 for around £36.5million, has not yet lived up to that price tag. Two goals in 24 appearances last season left him fighting for relevance at Old Trafford and fuelled talk of a return to Italy this summer. He has featured in pre-season under Michael Carrick and is one of the few recognised centre-forwards in the squad as United face Leeds in Dublin on Wednesday, but his long-term role remains unclear.
So Zirkzee has taken control of something he can change: his image.
From fringe forward to 90s rap aesthetic
The Dutch striker flew wardrobe stylist Sydney Luchies over from the Netherlands to Manchester to overhaul his look. The brief was not subtle. He wanted to “look like a rapper from the 90s” – but with his own twist.
Luchies, a fashion assistant and stylist, has documented the project with Zirkzee on TikTok. In one video, she explains her method.
“I start by making a mood board. Once the mood board is approved, I start making the outfits and once the outfits are approved, I start to order everything and then it’s time for delivery,” she said, outlining the process behind his new style.
This time, delivery meant flying to England.
“Joshua lives in Manchester, so this time we flew to England. Once I arrived, I started preparing all the outfits for the fitting and Joshua wanted to look like a rapper from the 90s – with his own touch. So, I think we did well.”
Oversized silhouettes, retro streetwear, bold pieces – the kind of look that sits closer to a classic hip-hop video than a Premier League training ground.
Clearing space for a new version
The style reboot did not stop at a few new outfits. Luchies returned for a full clear-out of Zirkzee’s wardrobe, filming herself working through rails and shelves of clothes in his Manchester home.
“Come with me to do a closet clean for Joshua Zirkzee,” she told followers in a later TikTok. “Joshua asked if I could help him reorganise his closet, create a bit more space for new things, and make it all neat and organised.”
Unwanted and unworn items were sorted into colour-co-ordinated piles. High-end pieces are set to be sold, with the rest earmarked for charity donations. The striker’s sprawling wardrobe, once crammed, is being reset to match the persona he wants to project.
For Luchies, this is familiar territory. The Dutch stylist describes herself as an “all-round wardrobe stylist and creative” and has worked with Burnley defender Quilindschy Hartman, currently on loan at Espanyol. Her portfolio includes shoots for PSV Eindhoven and collaborations with major brands such as Adidas, Puma and New Balance.
On her website, she explains how she sees the job: her love of fashion began when she was a child and has “never stopped developing”, and she now views outfits and concepts as “a form of art and self-expression”. Her aim, she says, is to follow the wishes of her clients while adding her own vision, constantly pushing to improve and achieve the best results in photo and video work.
Zirkzee, then, has not just hired someone to pick clothes. He has brought in a creative partner to help shape how he is seen.
Image first, impact next?
The timing is not accidental. United’s £36.5m investment has yet to pay off and the forward needs a reset. A new season, a new role under Carrick, and now a new look that distances him from the stereotype of a modern footballer.
Last year’s numbers tell their own story. Two goals, 24 appearances, questions over his future. Links back to Serie A refuse to go away.
But as United prepare for the campaign ahead, Zirkzee walks into pre-season with a refreshed wardrobe, a sharpened image and a clear sense of how he wants to present himself.
The clothes are sorted. Now he has to decide what kind of player he wants to be.
