In football, there’s something we all notice but might not give much thought to, footballers with dreadlocks. Some players not only stand out for their incredible skills but also for their distinctive dreadlock hairstyles.
In this guide, I will share with you the top 10 famous soccer players with dreadlocks. Let’s dive In.
1. Gervinho
Gervinho, the football maestro with the standout dreadlocks, once took the soccer world by storm. He started his career in the ASEC Abidjan youth academy, earning the nickname “Little Gervais” for his small frame and affectionate style of play.
He turned pro with Toumodi F.C. before making waves at Belgian side Waasland-Beveren. Then came his Ligue 1 stint with Le Mans, where he notched up goals alongside Romaric.
But it was at Lille that Gervinho truly impressed, scoring 13 times in his debut season and a whopping 18 goals in the next, helping Lille clinch the Ligue 1 title after 56 years. In 2011, Arsenal secured Gervinho for £10.8 million.
His time at Arsenal saw ups and downs, which was marked by memorable goals, a few controversies, and even a stint at the Africa Cup of Nations.
In 2013, he jetted off to A.S. Roma in Italy, displaying his acrobatic skills and knack for crucial goals. Later, Gervinho made headlines in the Chinese Super League with Hebei China Fortune, scoring on his debut.
His return to Serie A with Parma showed his brilliance, including a stunning solo goal that left fans stunned. In 2021, Gervinho accepted the Turkish Süper Lig with Trabzonspor, displaying his goal-scoring prowess. In 2022, he continued his journey, joining Aris Thessaloniki in Greece.
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2. Allan Saint-Maximin
Allan Saint-Maximin is another football player with unique dreadlocks. He was a five-year-old in Ris-Orangis, training with older kids under coach Didier Demonchy.
Most kids at that age trip and fumble, but not Allan. His talent was like second nature, catching the eye of scouts during his time at AC Boulogne-Billancourt. He then left Saint-Étienne in 2011, turning down an offer from Paris Saint-Germain.
Saint-Maximin was all set to announce himself, leaving Paris at 14 to be nurtured by Paul and Nicole Cavallero in Saint-Étienne.
His youth success paved the way for his professional debut at Saint-Étienne at just 16. Despite promises of more playing time, things didn’t quite click, and Saint-Maximin sought a move.
Monaco called in 2015, with a subsequent loan to Hannover 96 in Germany. A car accident disrupted his loan, but he returned to France, his promising career intact.
Saint-Maximin showed his skills on loan to Bastia in 2016-17, proving his worth with goals and assists. He was back at Monaco, and playing time was scarce, and that led to his move to Nice in 2017.
The French dynamo’s journey continued as he joined Newcastle United in 2019. He scored memorable goals, including a solo run against Oxford United.
His talent won over the hearts of Newcastle fans. In 2023, Saint-Maximin signed with the Saudi Professional League club Al Ahli. His impact was quick as he scored the winning goal in a 3–2 victory over Al Taawoun.
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3. Nathan Aké
Nathan Aké is one of the famous players who carries dreadlocks. Starting with Chelsea, he made his Premier League debut at 17 against Norwich City in December 2012, stepping in as a sub and sparking a 1–0 victory.
Aké’s journey continued with Chelsea, where he showed his skills in the FA Cup, the UEFA Europa League, and the Premier League.
He even earned the title of Chelsea’s Young Player of the Year, making a mark with his first Premier League start against Everton in a 2–1 win.
In 2013, he committed to Chelsea with a new five-year contract. Aké made his UEFA Champions League debut in 2014, providing an assist in a 6–0 victory over Maribor.
His loan spells added new chapters to Aké’s story. From Reading to Watford and then to AFC Bournemouth, he left an impact everywhere. At Watford, his versatility earned him the Young Player of the Season award.
AFC Bournemouth witnessed Aké’s prowess, with memorable moments like scoring against Liverpool in a thrilling 4–3 comeback.
Chelsea beckoned him back in 2017 for an FA Cup run, where he played a crucial role in the semi-final victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Then came the historic move to Bournemouth, securing a permanent spot and breaking the club’s transfer fee record. But the tale didn’t end there; Manchester City secured him In a deal for £41 million.
Aké’s City journey saw him debut in style, scoring against Leicester City and making his mark in the Champions League.
Tragically, he scored his first Champions League goal in 2021, revealing his father’s passing shortly after the match. In 2023, Aké captained Manchester City for the first time in the EFL Cup.
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4. Jules Kounde
Jules Koundé is another amazing player with lovely dreadlocks. Koundé kicked off his professional adventure with Bordeaux.
He debuted in a thrilling Coupe de France match against US Granville, giving his all for a full 120 minutes on January 7, 2018.
The budding star then stepped onto the Ligue 1 stage in a 1–0 victory over Troyes on January 13, 2018, which marked the beginning of his top-flight career.
On February 10, 2018, Koundé not only scored his first Ligue 1 goal but also netted the opening goal in a 3–2 home win against Amiens. Sevilla showed Interest in 2019, shelling out a reported €25 million for the French defender.
Koundé’s first season with Sevilla was spectacular having played an important role in the club clinching the UEFA Europa League for a record sixth time, earning his spot in the competition’s team of the season.
But the plot thickened when Barcelona announced their agreement with Seville in July 2022 to bring Koundé to Camp Nou.
The anticipation soared, but a twist of fate saw him miss the initial La Liga matches due to Barcelona exceeding the league’s salary cap limit.
The football world held its breath until August 26, 2022, when Koundé was finally registered with La Liga. Two days later, he made his official debut in a 4–0 triumph over Real Valladolid at Camp Nou.
5. Eberechi Eze
Eberechi Eze is a young famous football sensation with cool dreadlocks, and he conquered it. His journey began after he landed a successful trial with Queens Park Rangers (QPR).
His debut in 2017, marred by injury, didn’t dim his determination. Eze signed a contract extension, which shows his commitment until 2019.
A loan to Wycombe Wanderers in 2017 proved key as Eze’s talent is outstanding, helping Wycombe gain promotion. Back at QPR, he became a regular under Ian Holloway.
The 2018–19 season saw him score vital goals, including the only goal against Sunderland. As QPR transitioned under Steve McClaren, Eze thrived.
A new three-year contract and the coveted number 10 shirt signaled his importance. The 2019–20 season showed Eze’s brilliance, a dazzling 14 goals, and numerous assists, earning him accolades and a spot in the EFL Championship Team of the Season.
In 2020, Eze stepped into the Premier League with Crystal Palace, leaving an immediate impact with a debut goal against Southampton.
Despite an Achilles injury setback, he continued to be excellent, securing a permanent starting spot. His 2022–23 season at Palace proved stellar, with Eze becoming the top scorer with 10 goals.
The highlight of the season for him was a mesmerizing solo effort against Leeds United, that secured a 2–1 victory. Contract extension talks in November 2023 further solidified his commitment to Crystal Palace until 2027.
On the international stage, Eze faced a tough decision between Nigeria and England. Regardless of playing for England at various youth levels, he expressed uncertainty. He made his senior England debut in June 2023, which sealed his allegiance.
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6. Renato Sanches
Renato Sanches, the midfield dynamo with skills that speak louder than words. He is from Portugal, and he’s currently playing for the Serie A club Roma, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
Renato is one of the famous footballers with dreadlocks. Sanches began at Benfica and made his debut for the reserves in 2014 and the first team in 2015.
In his debut season, he helped Benfica bag the Primeira Liga and Taça da Liga double, earning him accolades like Primeira Liga Breakthrough Player and Golden Boy. Not bad for a rookie!
Bayern Munich took notice and placed €35 million to sign him in 2016, a record at the time for a Portuguese player in the Primeira Liga.
However, his first season with Bayern didn’t quite hit the high notes, which prompted a loan stint with Swansea City in 2017.
Back in Bayern in 2018, Sanches got a new lease of life with a move to French Ligue 1 side Lille in 2019, where he became their priciest signing ever at €25 million.
Talking about making an influence, he played an important part in Lille’s 2020–21 Ligue 1 victory, ending the club’s decade-long title drought.
On the international stage, Sanches is no stranger to success. He earned his stripes with Portugal’s youth teams, notching up 40 caps and 8 goals.
One of the best moments was in 2016 when, at just 18, he made his full international debut and played a key role in Portugal’s UEFA Euro triumph, making history as the youngest Portuguese player in an international tournament.
7. Trevor Chalobah
Trevoh Chalobah is a rising star in football with a hairstyle as unique as his journey, a rising star with a deadlock.
Hailing from Chelsea, he made his debut on August 11, 2021, during the 2021 UEFA Super Cup clash against Villarreal.
The match ended in a thrilling 1-1 draw after extra time, but Chelsea emerged victorious in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout, winning 6-5.
Just three days later, Chalobah made his Premier League debut against Crystal Palace, notching his first-ever Premier League goal in a confident 3-0 win.
On November 4, 2021, Chalobah committed his loyalty to Chelsea by signing a new contract that binds him to the club until 2026.
But that’s not all, the young lad showed his skills on the UEFA Champions League stage, scoring his inaugural Champions League goal on November 23, 2021, in a resounding 4-0 victory against Juventus at Stamford Bridge.
On October 29, 2022, Chalobah experienced a moment of challenge.
In Chelsea’s match against Brighton & Hove Albion, he unintentionally scored an own goal in a 4-1 defeat, which marked his first taste of defeat in the Chelsea colors.
8. Jeremy Doku
érémy Doku is another rising star with lightning-quick moves and a head-turning set of dreadlocks, creating a stir when he signed a five-year deal with City on 24 August.
Sporting the number 11 shirt for the 2023–24 season, Doku kicked off his City journey with a bang. In his debut on 2 September against Fulham, City cruised to a 5–1 victory at the Etihad Stadium, with Doku displaying his skills.
But it was on 16 September that he added his name to City’s history by scoring his first goal in a 3–1 away win over West Ham United.
Pep Guardiola, City’s manager, was left impressed, praising Doku as a “proper winger” and expressing surprise at his outstanding performance.
Doku’s European debut wasn’t far behind. On 4 October, he scored his maiden UEFA Champions League goal against RB Leipzig, sealing City’s 3–1 win.
His chemistry with teammate Julián Álvarez shone through, with Doku providing an assist just moments before his own goal.
The young winger continued to ingrain in the Premier League. On 22 October, he notched another assist to Álvarez in a 2-1 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion.
His dazzling runs down the left side left opponents struggling, earning him the Player of the Match accolade. November 4th marked a historic moment for Doku. In a spectacular 6–1 win over AFC Bournemouth, he not only scored the opening goal but also delivered four assists.
At just 21 years and 161 days old, Doku became the youngest player in Premier League history to provide four assists in a single match, earning himself the player of the match title and carving his name in the record books.
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9. Michael Olise
In July 2021, Crystal Palace secured Michael Olise’s talent, signing him for a five-year deal at a cool £8.37 million. The Premier League was about to witness the magic of Olise.
His debut came in September 2021, a thrilling 3–0 victory against Tottenham. Olise entered the game as a substitute, stepping in for Jordan Ayew in the 86th minute.
Not long after, on October 23, he earned his streak with a full debut in a 1–1 draw against Newcastle United. Olise’s Premier League journey reached new heights on October 3, 2021, when he scored his first goal for Crystal Palace in a 2–2 draw against Leicester City.
Making history, he became the youngest Palace player to find the net since Clinton Morrison back in 1998. April 9, 2023, marked a milestone for Olise as he became the youngest player to assist three goals from open play in a single Premier League match.
Palace celebrated a 5–1 victory against Leeds United, showing Olise’s playmaking prowess. The accolades continued in May when he became the first Palace player to register ten assists in a single Premier League season, contributing to a 2–0 win against AFC Bournemouth.
Amidst the buzz of his remarkable performances, on August 17, 2023, Crystal Palace announced that Olise had penned a new four-year deal. The news mixed with reports hinting at a potential return to Chelsea.
10. Rafael Leão
Rafael Leão is also one of the famous footballer players with dreadlocks. In 2019, AC Milan snatched him up for €35 million, and he signed on for five years.
Things kicked off with a bang as he debuted in Serie A against Udinese in August 2019. In 2020, Leão scored his first goal against Fiorentina.
However, there was a bit of a hiccup when the Court of Arbitration for Sport said he owed Sporting CP €16.5 million for leaving them hanging. But let’s talk about the good stuff.
In 2020, he scored against Juventus in a 4–2 win. During the 2021–22 season, Leão took Milan by storm. He scored goals, assisted like a boss, and helped Milan secure their first Serie A title in 11 years.
He even bagged the Serie A MVP award! Now, in the 2022–23 season, he’s still tearing it up. He scored a brace against Napoli in a 4–0 win.
And don’t get me started on his acrobatic bicycle kick against Roma, that was pure magic. In April 2023, he pulled off another stunner, a brace against Napoli in a 4–0 win.
Sadly, he missed the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter due to an injury, but he made a comeback in the second leg, even though Milan lost.
Just before the end of the 2022–23 season, Leão extended his contract with AC Milan until 2028. The guy’s commitment is unreal.
And now, he is wearing the number 10 shirt, previously worn by legends like Seedorf and Baggio, Leão continues to cause a stir in the 2023–24 season, scoring acrobatic bicycle kicks and helping Milan triumph over PSG in the Champions League.
Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.