Career Timeline of Erling Haaland: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Erling Haaland made an impact.

Erling Haaland is a Norwegian professional footballer widely regarded as one of the most prolific strikers in world football. Known for his extraordinary pace, physical strength, and clinical finishing, he rose to prominence at clubs like Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund before moving to Manchester City in 2022. Since joining Manchester City, Haaland has shattered numerous goal-scoring records, including the Premier League record for most goals in a single season. His contribution was pivotal in helping the club secure a historic continental treble in 2023. A dominant force in the box, Haaland combines elite positioning with explosive athleticism, making him a central figure in modern football and a consistent contender for global individual honors.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1 February 2017: Signing with Molde FK

On 1 February 2017, the Norwegian football club Molde officially announced the signing of 16-year-old Erling Haaland, marking a significant step in the young striker's professional career.

1 February 2020: Historic Goal Scoring Milestone

On 1 February 2020, Haaland scored twice against Union Berlin, setting a record as the first player in history to score seven goals within their first three Bundesliga matches.

1 July 2018: Haaland scores four goals against Brann

On 1 July 2018, Erling Haaland scored four goals in the first 21 minutes of a match against Brann, leading Molde to a 4-0 victory over the league leaders.

13 May 2021: DFB-Pokal final victory

After recovering from an injury, Erling Haaland returned to the starting line-up on 13 May 2021 to lead Dortmund to a 4–1 victory over Leipzig in the DFB-Pokal final, earning his first title with the club.

16 May 2020: Bundesliga return goal

Following the league's restart during the COVID-19 pandemic, Haaland scored the opening goal in a 4–0 victory against Schalke 04 on 16 May 2020, marking his tenth goal of the Bundesliga season.

18 February 2020: Champions League brace against PSG

On 18 February 2020, Erling Haaland scored both goals in Borussia Dortmund's 2–1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, bringing his personal tally to 10 goals in the 2019–20 Champions League season.

18 January 2020: Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga Debut

On 18 January 2020, Erling Haaland made his official debut for Borussia Dortmund against FC Augsburg, entering as a substitute and scoring a hat-trick in under 23 minutes to help secure a 5-3 victory.

19 September 2020: Dortmund Season Opener Success

On 19 September 2020, Erling Haaland kicked off the new season for Borussia Dortmund by scoring two goals in a 3–0 victory against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

20 June 2020: Securing second place

On 20 June 2020, Haaland scored both goals in a 2–0 win against RB Leipzig, ensuring Borussia Dortmund finished in second place and qualified for the following season's Champions League.

2015: Haaland's Performance for Bryne 2

During the 2015 season, Erling Haaland played for the Bryne reserve team, Bryne 2, in the Norwegian fourth tier, where he showcased his scoring ability by netting 18 goals across 18 matches.

May 2016: Haaland's Professional Debut with Bryne FK

In May 2016, following the dismissal of manager Gaute Larsen, caretaker coach Berntsen promoted Erling Haaland to the senior squad, granting the teenager his first professional start with Bryne FK during a 1. divisjon match.

August 2018: Transfer Announcement to Red Bull Salzburg

On August 2018, Red Bull Salzburg announced that Erling Haaland would be joining their club on a five-year contract starting in early 2019.

January 2019: Official Start of Contract with Red Bull Salzburg

On January 2019, Erling Haaland officially began his tenure with the Austrian Bundesliga champions Red Bull Salzburg following the completion of his contract signing.

December 2019: Haaland Signs with Borussia Dortmund

On December 29, 2019, Erling Haaland officially signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the German club Borussia Dortmund for a reported fee of €20 million, choosing the Bundesliga side despite interest from other major European clubs.

2019: 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Boot Win

During the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Erling Haaland made history by securing the Golden Boot award. His most notable achievement in 2019 was scoring a tournament-record nine goals in a single match. Additionally, 2019 marked the year he made his senior international debut for the Norway national football team.

2019: Transfer to Red Bull Salzburg

In 2019, Erling Haaland signed with the Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg, marking a significant step in his career where he subsequently secured victories in both the Austrian Bundesliga and the Austrian Cup.

2019: Erling Haaland's Record-Breaking Champions League Run and Salzburg Departure

Throughout 2019, Erling Haaland achieved a historic feat by becoming the first teenager to score in five consecutive Champions League group stage matches, following a goal against Genk on 27 November. Despite this success, he failed to score in the final group match against Liverpool, resulting in Salzburg's elimination. This concluded his tenure at the club, where he finished his time at Salzburg in 2019 with a remarkable total of 29 goals, including 28 goals in just 22 appearances during the 2019–20 season.

2020: Move to Borussia Dortmund

Erling Haaland transitioned to the German Bundesliga in 2020 by signing with Borussia Dortmund, further elevating his professional football career.

2021: Bundesliga Player of the Season and FIFPRO World 11 Selection

During 2021, Haaland reached significant career heights by being named the Bundesliga Player of the Season and earning a place in the prestigious FIFPRO World 11 team.

2022: Transfer to Manchester City

In 2022, Erling Haaland finalized a move to Manchester City for a fee of €60 million, setting the stage for a highly decorated debut season where he achieved a continental treble and numerous individual scoring records.

22 January 2021: Double against Mönchengladbach

On 22 January 2021, Haaland recorded two goals in a match against Mönchengladbach, though his team ultimately suffered a 4–2 defeat.

24 January 2020: Record-Breaking Second Appearance

On 24 January 2020, during his second appearance for Dortmund against FC Köln, Haaland scored two goals after coming off the bench, becoming the first player in Bundesliga history to score five goals in his first two league matches.

24 November 2020: Fastest player to score 15 Champions League goals

On 24 November 2020, Erling Haaland scored two goals against Club Brugge, bringing his total to 15 goals in just 12 Champions League matches, which set a new record for the fastest player to reach that milestone.

26 July 2018: Haaland scores first UEFA goal

On 26 July 2018, Haaland recorded his first goal in a UEFA competition by scoring a penalty during Molde's 3-0 victory against KF Laçi in the Europa League qualifying round.

3 January 2021: Return to the pitch

On 3 January 2021, Erling Haaland made his official return to play for Borussia Dortmund in a match against VfL Wolfsburg following a period of absence.

30 September 2020: DFL-Supercup Goal Against Bayern

On 30 September 2020, Haaland scored the equalizing goal for his team, though Dortmund ultimately fell to a 2–3 defeat against Bayern Munich in the DFL-Supercup.

8 July 2018: Haaland scores two goals against Vålerenga

On 8 July 2018, one week after his four-goal performance, Haaland continued his scoring streak by netting two goals in a 5-1 win against Vålerenga.

9 January 2021: Brace against RB Leipzig

Erling Haaland scored two goals on 9 January 2021 during an away match against RB Leipzig, contributing to a 3–1 victory for his team.

9 March 2021: Champions League record-breaking performance against Sevilla

On 9 March 2021, Erling Haaland scored two goals in a 2–2 draw against Sevilla, helping his team reach the Champions League quarter-finals. This achievement made him the fastest and youngest player to reach 20 goals in the competition, while also marking him as the first player to score multiple goals in four consecutive Champions League matches.