Joshua Zirkzee's Image Transformation: A 90s Rapper Style
Joshua Zirkzee is changing the script before a ball has even been kicked.
The Manchester United forward, under pressure after a flat first season at Old Trafford, has flown in a stylist from the Netherlands to rip up his wardrobe and rebuild his image – this time with a very specific brief: look less like a footballer, more like a rapper from the 90s.
A reset off the pitch
Zirkzee arrived from Bologna in 2024 for around £36.5–37 million, billed as a clever, long-term addition. The reality has been harsher. Two goals in 24 appearances, no guaranteed starting spot, and constant whispers about a return to Italy this summer.
He is part of Michael Carrick’s pre-season plans and one of the few recognised centre-forwards in the squad heading into Wednesday’s friendly against Leeds in Dublin. His future, though, remains open.
So while the club weighs up his role, Zirkzee has gone looking for something he can control: how he presents himself.
“Like a rapper from the 90s”
Enter Sydney Luchies.
The Dutch wardrobe stylist has been documenting her work with Zirkzee on TikTok, giving a behind-the-scenes look at how a modern footballer reinvents his image. Her process starts long before any clothes are tried on.
“I start by making a mood board,” she explains in one video. “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.”
This time, delivery meant a flight to Manchester.
“Joshua lives in Manchester, so this time we flew to England,” she said. “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 colours, retro cuts – the kind of look that wouldn’t have been out of place on a 90s album cover. That’s the vibe Zirkzee asked for. Luchies built it piece by piece.
Clearing space for a new version
The transformation didn’t stop at new outfits. In a follow-up TikTok last month, Luchies filmed herself tackling Zirkzee’s existing wardrobe, which was bursting with high-end gear.
“Come with me to do a closet clean for Joshua Zirkzee,” she told viewers, before showing the clear-out in progress.
She pulled everything out, sorted unwanted and unworn clothes into colour-coordinated piles, and mapped out what would happen next. The plan: sell off the premium items, donate the rest to charity, and leave room for the new look to breathe.
For a player trying to reset his career, it felt symbolic. Old clothes out. New identity in.
A stylist with pedigree
Luchies is not new to the football world. The Netherlands-based creative has previously styled Burnley defender Quilindschy Hartman, currently on loan at Espanyol, and has worked on shoots for PSV Eindhoven.
Her portfolio stretches beyond clubs. She has collaborated with brands such as Adidas, Puma and New Balance, and describes herself as an “all-round wardrobe stylist and creative”.
On her website, she explains that her passion for fashion and creating started when she was a child and never stopped growing. She sees outfits and concepts as “a form of art and self-expression” and says her goal is to blend the wishes of her clients with her own vision, whether it’s editorial, commercial or celebrity styling. The aim, she writes, is always the same: keep improving and chase the best possible result on photo and video.
Now that eye is focused on Zirkzee.
New look, old questions
The Dutch forward will hope the change in style signals a change in fortunes. United invested heavily to bring him from Serie A, but he has yet to impose himself in the Premier League or fully convince at Old Trafford.
He has minutes in pre-season, a manager who needs goals, and a squad still short of natural centre-forwards. The platform is there.
Zirkzee has cleared out his wardrobe, sharpened his image and stepped into a new persona. The next step is the only one that really counts at Manchester United: can he now reinvent himself on the pitch?
