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

Joshua Zirkzee is trying to change the story – and he’s starting with the mirror.

The Manchester United forward has flown in Dutch stylist Sydney Luchies to overhaul his wardrobe as he bids to swap the look of a Premier League striker for the swagger of a 90s rapper.

From misfiring striker to 90s throwback

On the pitch, the numbers have not been kind. Since arriving from Bologna in 2024, Zirkzee has struggled to nail down a regular place, scoring just twice in 24 appearances. A £36.5–37 million signing still searching for a role, he has already been linked with a move back to Italy this summer.

For now, he remains part of Michael Carrick’s pre-season plans and one of the few recognised centre-forwards in the squad, featuring ahead of Wednesday night’s friendly against Leeds in Dublin. His future at Old Trafford is uncertain. His image, less so.

Off the pitch, Zirkzee has turned to Luchies, a Netherlands-based wardrobe stylist, to help him reset. The brief was clear: less “footballer off-duty”, more “rapper from the 90s”.

Mood boards, fittings and a new identity

Luchies has documented the project on TikTok, taking followers inside the process of reshaping a player’s style.

“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 explained in an earlier video.

This time, delivery meant flying to Manchester.

“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.”

Baggy silhouettes, bold pieces, that retro, video-era feel – the look is designed to carry some of the confidence he wants to rediscover on the pitch.

Clearing space for a reset

The style shift didn’t stop at a few new outfits. In a follow-up TikTok last month, Luchies filmed herself tackling Zirkzee’s sprawling wardrobe, turning it into a full-scale clear-out.

“Come with me to do a closet clean for Joshua Zirkzee,” she told viewers. “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.”

Unworn and unwanted clothes were sorted into colour-co-ordinated piles. The plan: sell the high-end pieces and donate the rest to charity. Space for new clothes, and perhaps a new chapter.

A stylist with a growing football portfolio

Luchies is no stranger to the professional game. She has previously worked with Burnley defender Quilindschy Hartman, currently on loan at Espanyol, and has styled 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 writes on her website that her passion for fashion started when she was a child and that she now sees outfits and concepts as “a form of art and self-expression”. Her stated aim is to marry a client’s wishes with her own vision, constantly pushing to improve and “strive for the best results in the field of photo and video”.

For Zirkzee, that vision is now stitched into his day-to-day life in Manchester.

New look, same pressure

A refreshed wardrobe will not change his finishing, his movement, or his place in the pecking order. United signed him for serious money and are still waiting to see the version of Zirkzee that lit up Serie A.

But players often reach for something symbolic when they want a reset – a new number, a new haircut, or, in this case, a full 90s-rap reinvention.

The clothes are in place. The closet is cleared. The question now is whether Joshua Zirkzee can tidy up the one area that matters most: his game at Old Trafford.