There is one friendship in the Premier League that is not spoken about enough, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland. On the surface, they appear to be polar opposites. Grealish, the English winger with a flair for the dramatic, both on and off the pitch. He’s known for his relaxed persona, his love of celebration, and a lifestyle that’s often a topic of negative public discussion. Then there’s Haaland, the stoic Norwegian goal-machine, a testament to relentless professionalism and dedication. He’s a player who seems to live and breathe for nothing but goals, recovery, and peak physical condition.
Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland's friendship 😅🙌 pic.twitter.com/HoU4v4B90U
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) May 6, 2023
Their connection began almost immediately, and it has since become a staple of Manchester City’s success. As Grealish himself has said, their relationship off the pitch makes things “that much easier” on it.
One of the most genuine moments came after Manchester City won the Premier League title thanks to Haaland in his first season shattering the golden boot record by scoring 36 goals. During a post match interview Jack was heard enthusiastically shouting, “I f**king love you, you know that!”
Jack had a very poor stint at Manchester City, being made to play as a touchline winger and could not exhibit his skills due to the tactical setup by Pep Guardiola. In 2024 he went the entire year without scoring a goal. Jack had signed for a British record transfer fee of £100 million and there were very harsh critics about his performances. Many of them critiquing his lifestyle and personality.
Haaland was always a very vocal supporter of Jack, defending him from critics and always speaking positively about him. Manchester City would fly to the US for the Club World Cup where Grealish was omitted from the squad and left in Manchester. Haaland posted a picture on Snapchat saying “Jack Grealish where are you” with a crying emoji. They always sat together when they would fly for matches.
Jack has now moved to Everton on loan this window but this would not be the end of their friendship.
Grealish made an instant impact at Everton. In his first start he provided both assists in Everton’s 2-0 win against Brighton at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium. In his next Premier League match at wolves he provided two assists again in a 3-2 win.
Haaland acknowledged and posted a picture on his Snapchat story with the caption “Jack De Bruyne does it again.” A nod to his former teammate Kevin De Bruyne being an assist master with Grealish delivering 4 assists in two games.
Jack De Bruyne 🥹🩵 pic.twitter.com/KdkJKFj8tg
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) August 30, 2025
Jack would reply within 24 hours by posting a story on his Instagram calling the Norwegian his favourite Premier League striker.
The bond between Grealish and Haaland serves as a powerful reminder that in the high-stakes environment of professional sports, the most valuable relationships are often those built on authenticity. Their story is a testament to how two individuals with distinctly different personalities can find common ground, forging one of the most unexpected and enduring friendships in modern football.
