Erling Haaland and his father have demonstrated their commitment to their hometown and its cultural heritage by purchasing a rare, historic book on Viking royalty for 1.3 million Norwegian kroner—setting a new record for a book auction in Norway—and subsequently donating it to a local library.
Norwegian football superstar Erling Haaland has shown that his contributions extend beyond the pitch. Together with his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, he spent 1.3 million Norwegian kroner (approximately $137,000 USD) to acquire a rare 1594 edition of a work detailing the history of Viking royalty. This purchase set a record for the most expensive book ever sold at auction in Norway. The pair then donated the volume to the library in Bryne—Haaland’s hometown—where it will remain on permanent public display.
According to The Guardian, the book, titled Snorre Sturlasons Kongesagaer (The Sagas of the Norse Kings by Snorri Sturluson), is the only known 1594 edition held in private hands. The donation was announced by the Haalands last December, much to the surprise and delight of the local library staff.
On Monday, Erling Haaland’s father, Alfie, attended the unveiling of a library section, joking that he and his son can sometimes be quite impulsive—”Sometimes, both my son and I are a bit impulsive.” He introduced an ancient book to the students present, describing it as “a really cool book, full of history,” and even led the children in drumming and singing the iconic “Viking rowing” chant used by the Norwegian national football team.
Erling Haaland, who could not attend in person, shared via video his lifelong interest in the Vikings. He admitted that he isn’t much of a reader himself, but noted that he now reads plenty of books to his one-year-old son.
This ancient text chronicles the history of the Old Norse Viking Age and the medieval kings of Norway; it is regarded by many Norwegians as a vital document of their national identity. Its contents—stories of kings, queens, farmers, and warriors—were originally passed down through oral tradition before being compiled into written form by the Icelandic author Snorri Sturluson in the mid-13th century.
This summer, 26-year-old Erling Haaland led the Norwegian national team to the quarter-finals of the World Cup (hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico), sparking a “Haaland fever” in his hometown—a phenomenon that has drawn fans from across Norway and abroad to make a pilgrimage to the town.
Andreas Vollsund, the mayor of Bryne—who also happens to be one of Haaland’s former teachers—noted that while Haaland has long been a local star, his recent initiative to donate books and organize a reading competition has “taken things to another level.” He added, “We are now seeing what a wonderful person Erling truly is; he was under no obligation to do these things for his hometown, yet he chose to do so.”