Footballers pay up to 30,000 and left unrecognisable after hair transplants including Man Utd lege

May 2024 · 5 minute read

ANTONIO CONTE could have been forgiven for tearing his hair out after Tottenham's North London derby defeat by Arsenal.

But then again, that would be a waste of thousands of pounds.

Conte is one of the many footballing figures, such as David Silva and Wayne Rooney, rumoured to have had a hair transplant.

And plenty others have followed suit.

Join SunSport in unveiling footballers who have been vain enough to do something about being follically challenged - and been left barely recognisable.

WAYNE ROONEY

Just to confirm to all my followers I have had a hair transplant. I was going bald at 25 why not. I'm delighted with the result.

— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) June 4, 2011

Possibly the most famous of all modern day hair transplants, Rooney’s ongoing battle with his barnet has occupied many column inches over the years.

To his credit, the DC United boss has never hidden the fact that he’s undergone several procedures in his bid to beat his baldness, spending a reported £30,000 in the process.

In 2011, for example, he took to Twitter to proudly declare the start of his treatment and to show the results of the surgery.

He’s also said to use hair thickening sprays too. And it’s still not working.

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STEPHEN IRELAND

Where do you start with Stephen Ireland’s hair? Or lack of it.

In his early days as a professional, it was clear he was thinning on top but then around 2006-07, his hair suddenly sprung into life.

At the time, rumours abounded that it was actually a wig, rather than a transplant.

But in 2008 the plot, unlike his hair, thickened when he turned out for Manchester City with his head completely shaved.

Now retired after a stint at Bolton, the 36-year-old now opts for the bald but bearded style.

ANDROS TOWNSEND

Andros Townsend in 2015 sat on the bench for Spurs with little hair.

But six years on when joining the Everton in 2021, the star's hair has not just returned it’s growing like a Leylandii hedge.

He’ll need planning permission soon.

DIMITAR BERBATOV

When he was a player for Spurs and Manchester United, the Bulgarian striker became known as one the earlier pioneers of the Alice band.

But by the time he joined Monaco in 2014, he didn’t really have any need for it.

Check him out now though - what a transformation.

ANTONIO CONTE

Spurs manager Antonio Conte is such a perfectionist he has had THREE hair transplants.

He underwent two less than successful procedures in his native Italy after retiring as a player.

Eventually he got his barnet back when he flew to Vancouver, Canada, to the famous Hasson and Wong clinic.

This time the surgery worked, and he still has the full head of hair he dreamed of, although if things keep going wrong at Spurs he could soon be pulling it all out again.

ASHLEY BARNES

In September 2017, the Burnley striker opened up about his decision to have a hair transplant, blaming jibes from his team-mates and the fact that he hated seeing his balding pate on Match of the Day.

He admitted: “You see a little island and you think, 'Woah, I didn’t think I was that bad.'

“I thought something needs to be done.”

So he went for it. Even now, it’s not entirely obvious that it’s worked. Hope he kept the receipt.

DAVID PLATT

Maybe it was the pressure of trying to coach Mario Balotelli at Manchester City that made David Platt’s hair fall out?

It may, of course, just have been genetics.

Platty is clearly enjoying life now all his hair has come back. Mind you, that was because he had a hair transplant in 2016.

"I've struggled with male pattern hair loss for many years, and eventually got to a point where I decided it was time to address it,” he said.
“I'm thrilled with my new look and really impressed with my new hairline.”

DAVID BECKHAM

We have no proof that David Beckham, a man known for his luscious locks, has been follically challenged.

But try finding a picture of him not wearing a hat in the latter part of 2018.

Then ask yourself how the owner of Inter Miami can go from one trim to the other in a few short months?

Of course, it may just be daily doses of kelp!

ROB HOLDING

The Arsenal centre-back is another star to sport a new barnet - and it hasn't gone under the radar.

Only 27, the defender clearly didn't want to spend another ten years having 'Oi baldy, you're rubbish' shouted at him by opposing fans.

So he's taken action - and couldn't be happier with the results.

So much so, he's even openly endorsed the Harley Street clinic where he got the work done.

Holding said: "I struggled so much with my hair and self-confidence. Wimpole Clinic treated me so well and I am happy with the results."

And fans are equally impressed, with one calling it 'the greatest comeback since Liverpool in Istanbul'.

Revealing footage shows what really goes on in a hair transplant procedure

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