Soccer Star Haaland Donates $100K Viking Book to Hometown

Not every athlete who scores goals also scores wins for history lovers, but Erling Haaland just did both.

The Manchester City striker and Norway's all-time top scorer purchased a rare 1594 Viking manuscript for £100,000 in December. Instead of keeping it for himself, he donated the only surviving copy to the public library in Bryne, the small Norwegian town where he grew up.

The book tells medieval stories of Viking kings, queens, farmers and warriors. It's the printed edition of work by 13th-century historian Snorri Sturluson, and it just set the record for the most expensive book sale in Norwegian history.

Haaland, who bought the manuscript with his father Alf-Inge, had one specific request for the library. He wants the book to always lie open so visitors can read the pages, not just look at a closed cover behind glass.

"I want the book always to lie open so that people can read about those who came from where I come from, from Bryne and Jæren," Haaland told Norwegian media. The town of Bryne sits in western Norway, about 30 kilometers south of Stavanger.

His reason for the gift goes deeper than preserving history. The 25-year-old knows he's lucky to live his dream through football, but he recognizes that not everyone gets that chance.

Why This Inspires

Haaland could have kept this treasure as a private collection piece. Instead, he's giving an entire community access to stories that might spark someone's imagination or sense of possibility.

"Books give so many more people the chance to dream big, see new possibilities and find their own path," he explained. It's a reminder that success means little if you can't lift others up with you.

The gesture also shows how connecting with your roots can fuel generosity. Haaland was born in Leeds, England, while his father played for Leeds United, but Bryne shaped who he became.

Now leading the Premier League with 22 goals this season, Haaland is helping Norway prepare for their first World Cup since 1998. But his impact back home will last far longer than any tournament, sitting open in a library where a kid flipping through Viking tales might find their own reason to dream.