Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is reportedly set to be replaced as the cover star for the 2025 edition of the video game EAFC.
The 23-year-old helped Manchester City to a record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title during the recent 2023/24 campaign, clinching his second successive Golden Boot award with 27 goals.
Haaland, who scored 38 goals and registered six assists for Pep Guardiola’s side across all competitions last season, has taken his Manchester City tally to an impressive 90 goals in 98 appearances since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.
The Norwegian international’s 52-goal debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium led to the striker becoming the cover star of EA Sports FC 2024, replacing Kylian Mbappe and Sam Kerr for the viral video game.
Haaland became the latest footballing star to be named as the game’s front cover last year, following in the footsteps of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney.
The 23-year-old has won six trophies and scored nine hat-tricks for Manchester City to date, and is preparing to embark on his third campaign in east Manchester, which begins next month with an FA Community Shield clash against local rivals Manchester United.
The Manchester City striker has been replaced as the cover star for next season’s edition of the game however, with it being leaked online that Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham will star on the front of EAFC 25.
Bellingham, who could win the European Championship with England in Berlin this weekend, won the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League during his maiden campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu.
England face Spain in the European Championship final on Sunday evening, after Gareth Southgate’s side beat the Netherlands courtesy of Ollie Watkins’ 90th minute strike.
Haaland’s appearance as the cover star was explained earlier this year, with EA Sports senior marketing director James Salmon revealing: “Erling Haaland represents the future of football and embodies a huge amount of the values that we would like to think hold very true to what EA Sports FC 24 stands for.”