Joshua Zirkzee's Fashion Transformation: From Striker to 90s Rapper Style

Joshua Zirkzee is trying to reboot more than just his Manchester United career – he’s changing the way he walks into a room.

The Dutch forward has flown in a stylist from the Netherlands to overhaul his wardrobe, asking for a look that’s less “Premier League striker” and more “rapper from the 90s”.

From fringe forward to fashion project

Zirkzee’s first full season at Old Trafford never really caught fire. Signed from Bologna in 2024 for around £36.5–37 million, he managed only two goals in 24 appearances and struggled to nail down a regular place in Michael Carrick’s side.

He’s back involved in pre-season and among the few recognised centre-forwards available as United face Leeds in Dublin on Wednesday. His future remains uncertain, with a return to Italy still being mentioned, but off the pitch he has made a decisive move.

He called in wardrobe stylist Sydney Luchies, flying her over to Manchester to rip up his look and start again.

“Rapper from the 90s – with his own touch”

Luchies, a Netherlands-based stylist, has documented the entire process with Zirkzee on TikTok, taking followers behind the scenes of a full image reset.

“I start by making a mood board,” she explained in one of the videos. “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.

“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.”

The brief was clear: oversized, expressive, nostalgic. But tailored to him.

Clearing space for a new version of Zirkzee

The style revamp didn’t stop at new clothes. In a follow-up TikTok last month, Luchies filmed herself tackling Zirkzee’s packed wardrobe in Manchester.

“Come with me to do a closet clean for Joshua Zirkzee,” she said, outlining the job. “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.”

She sorted piles of unwanted or unworn items, colour-co-ordinating them across the floor. The plan: sell off the high-end pieces and donate the rest to charity, turning a clear-out into something with a wider impact.

A stylist with a growing football portfolio

Luchies is no stranger to the football world. She has previously worked with Burnley defender Quilindschy Hartman, currently on loan at Espanyol, and has been involved in photo shoots for PSV Eindhoven. Her client list also includes collaborations with major brands such as Adidas, Puma and New Balance.

Describing herself as an “all-round wardrobe stylist and creative”, she sets out her philosophy on her website: her love for fashion and creating began when she was a child and has “never stopped developing”. She sees outfits and concepts as a form of art and self-expression and says her goal is to follow the wishes of her clients while adding her own vision, always pushing for the best possible visual result.

New look, new season

For Zirkzee, the timing is no accident. With his wardrobe refreshed and his image sharpened, he heads into the new campaign needing the same kind of reset on the pitch.

United invested heavily to bring him to Old Trafford. Now, with a 90s-rapper swagger in his step, the question is whether his football can finally match the new persona.