Joshua Zirkzee Transforms His Style with 90s Rapper Influence
Joshua Zirkzee is changing more than just his boots this summer.
The Manchester United forward has flown in a stylist from the Netherlands to completely overhaul his wardrobe, swapping the typical footballer look for something far bolder: the aura of a 90s rapper.
From fringe striker to fashion project
On the pitch, Zirkzee’s first year at Old Trafford has not gone to script. Signed from Bologna in 2024 for around £36.5–37 million, the 25-year-old managed only two goals in 24 appearances last season and struggled to cement a regular place in Michael Carrick’s side.
He has featured in pre-season and is one of the few recognised centre-forwards in the squad as United face Leeds in Dublin on Wednesday. Even so, his future remains uncertain, with talk of a possible return to Italy still in the air.
Off the pitch, though, he has taken firm control.
“Like a rapper from the 90s”
Zirkzee brought over Dutch wardrobe stylist Sydney Luchies to Manchester to reshape his image. Luchies, who is based in the Netherlands, has been documenting the project on TikTok, taking followers inside the process of building a new look for the United striker.
She explained how it started with a mood board before moving on to full outfit planning and ordering, all tailored to a very specific brief: Zirkzee wanted to “look like a rapper from the 90s – with his own touch.”
“Joshua lives in Manchester, so this time we flew to England,” Luchies said in an earlier video as she walked through her method. Once in the city, she laid out the outfits for a full fitting, confident they had hit the brief.
A clear-out and a clean slate
The style shift did not stop at adding new clothes. In a follow-up TikTok posted last month, Luchies filmed herself tackling Zirkzee’s already packed wardrobe, turning a sprawling collection into something sharper and more streamlined.
She emptied rails and shelves, sorting unwanted or unworn items into colour-coordinated piles. The plan is to sell the high-end pieces and donate the rest to charity, turning a personal rebrand into something with a wider impact.
“Come with me to do a closet clean for Joshua Zirkzee,” she told viewers, explaining that he had asked for help to reorganise his space, create room for new pieces and make everything neat and ordered.
A stylist with pedigree
Luchies is no stranger to the football world. She has previously worked with Burnley defender Quilindschy Hartman, currently on loan at Espanyol, and has handled styling for photo shoots at PSV Eindhoven. Her client list stretches beyond clubs, too, with collaborations alongside major brands such as Adidas, Puma and New Balance.
On her website, she describes herself as an “all-round wardrobe stylist and creative,” framing fashion as both art and self-expression. Her aim, she says, is to merge the wishes of her clients with her own vision, always chasing the best possible result on set, whether for editorial, commercial, or celebrity work.
New look, new season
For Zirkzee, the makeover is about more than social media content. After a difficult first campaign and a price tag that still hangs heavy, he needs a reset.
The wardrobe has been stripped back and rebuilt. The outfits now match the persona he wants to project.
What he needs next is for the performances at Old Trafford to follow the same script.
