Tottenham and England midfielder James Maddison has shown gradual hairline recession over his career, sparking speculation about a possible hair transplant. Though he’s never confirmed treatment, photo evidence suggests subtle surgical restoration, likely using FUE, alongside styling choices that help conceal early-stage hair loss.
Uncover James Maddison’s evolving hairline and explore whether he’s undergone a discreet hair transplant in this article. With photo analysis, expert insights, graft estimates, and explanations of techniques like FUE, find out whether James Maddison is likely to have had a hair transplant.
Key takeaways
James Maddison is a Premier League football player who currently plays for Tottenham Hotspur. He’s also been called up to play for England several times, though his international career has been marred by injury.
There’s also plenty of speculation about whether James Maddison has had a hair transplant. James himself hasn’t confirmed or denied these rumours, but there are some indicators that suggest James Maddison has had a hair transplant in recent years.
Let’s take a look at how James Maddison’s hair has changed over the years, and what’s led to speculation about his surgical hair restoration.
James Maddison’s hairline has receded since his early career. Approaching his 30s, his temples are visibly deeper, with more irregularities around the centre of his forehead compared with his hair when he was in his early 20s.
That said, James Maddison’s hair loss isn’t especially advanced at this stage. Mapping his hairline to the Norwood Scale — which is typically used to measure the extent of male pattern baldness — James Maddison appears to have reached Norwood stage 2-3:
So yes, James Maddison is likely to be losing his hair. But he’s not alone. Male pattern baldness affects 80% of men over the course of their lives, including more than 50% of those under 50 [1-2].
Let’s take a look at how James Maddison’s hair has changed over the years, and what’s likely to have caused those visible differences.
At the age of 21, James Maddison had virtually no signs of hair loss. While his hairline wasn’t completely symmetrical even then, he had no temple recession, and his hairline was strong and straight.
Pictures from around this time also show that James Maddison has a naturally high forehead, which can be confused with hair loss.
His hairline was still very full in 2021, when he signed for Leicester City. But there are slight indicators of temple hair loss developing by this point, which are highlighted by James’s preferred slicked-back style.
Throughout his time at Leicester City, there weren’t many obvious changes in James’s hairline. Even when wet, you can’t see his scalp through his hair, which is often an indicator of more advanced hair loss.
Speculation around James Maddison’s rumoured hair transplant has grown since he joined Spurs at the age of 27. But while some photos do show more advanced hair shedding, others indicate more limited losses. For example:
Both these images are from July 2023, but James’s temples appear much more recessed in the right-hand photo. Sweeping his hair back exposes the temple, making his hair loss more visible. So what looks like a hair transplant may in fact be smart styling.
Almost a year later, in May 2024, James Maddison’s temples appeared to be covered up again. That said, he still has noticeable irregularities at the centre of his hairline, so his modified hairstyle is likely to be disguising his hair loss here.
More recently, James has been experimenting with other hairstyles besides his trademark slicked-back look. At Wimbledon in July 2025, he was spotted with his hair brushed forward over his temples and forehead, hiding his hairline:
View this post on Instagram A post shared by James Maddison (@madders)
A post shared by James Maddison (@madders)
Textured brushed-forward styles like these are ideal for covering up a receding hairline. But they can also help hide a hair transplant, especially if you’ve had unshaven FUE. This technique enables surgeons to extract and implant grafts without fully shaving your head, making it easier to conceal your surgery sooner. It’s often selected by patients who need small graft volumes, so may well have been an option for James Maddison around this time.
While it’s unclear exactly when James Maddison had a hair transplant, his hairline was significantly straighter in an Instagram post from August 2025.
The irregularities in his central hairline appear to have been blended in with the rest of his hair, and his temples are much lower than in previous photos. This suggests James Maddison has probably had a hair transplant in recent years.
Analysing photos of James Maddison’s hair at the peak of his hair loss, he’s likely to have needed around 1,500 grafts to achieve his current hairline. This is typical for a person with Norwood stage 3 hair loss.
Want to know how many hair grafts you might need to tackle your own thinning? Use our hair transplant graft calculator for an approximate guide.
Given the limited visible clues that James Maddison has had a hair transplant, it’s likely he chose FUE for his hair restoration, or possibly even unshaven FUE.
FUE leaves minimal visible hair transplant scarring, and when the hair regrows in your donor region it’s normally very difficult to tell you’ve had a hair transplant. That’s why FUE is the world’s most popular hair transplant technique [3].
Based on our UK hair transplant cost research, a 1,500 graft hair transplant in the UK costs around £4,820. However, prices vary substantially from clinic to clinic, so the exact cost of James Maddison’s hair transplant depends on how many grafts he had, where his surgery took place, and other factors.
Hair transplant prices at the Wimpole Clinic start at £3,499. Book a consultation at your nearest clinic location for a hair loss assessment and hair transplant quote.
James Maddison hasn’t spoken about his hair loss, or any treatments he may have tried to tackle it. So it’s not known if he uses finasteride, minoxidil, or any other non-surgical hair loss treatments.
That said, most men in their 20s are advised to use proven treatments to manage their native hair loss both before and after a hair transplant. That’s because continuing native hair loss can compromise the look of a hair transplant, and increase the chances of needing a second hair transplant later on. Dr Chirag Gadhia, a surgeon at our award-winning hair transplant clinic, explains how these treatments help:
“Minoxidil can help expedite hair growth by increasing blood flow to the scalp. Similarly, PRP has been shown to accelerate post-transplant growth and improve strand density. Finasteride plays an important role in protecting native hairs and has been shown to increase the number of hairs in the growth (anagen) phase.”
A good diet and regular exercise can help improve hair quality in anyone, not just footballers and other athletes. Nutritional deficiencies can cause hair loss, which is why it’s important to eat a healthy, balanced diet.
Professional athletes tend to follow specific diets that prioritise their health and fitness, so it’s unlikely that James Maddison (or any professional footballer) would be affected by nutrition-related hair loss.
Dr Mir Malkani explains why athletes often get excellent hair transplant results in this video:
The Wimpole Clinic is one of the longest-running hair transplant clinics in the UK. With more than 50 years’ experience under our belts, we’re known for prioritising patient safety and results. It’s why we’re trusted by hundreds of patients every year, including elite footballers and sportspeople, from Ben Stokes to Jonathan Joseph.
Rob Holding had his hair transplant at the Wimpole Clinic and shared his results on social media:
“I struggled so much with my hair and self-confidence. I have had so many messages about where I had my procedure. The Wimpole Clinic in London treated me so well and I am so happy with the results.”
Book your free consultation at the Wimpole Clinic to find out more about how we help patients from all walks of life redefine their confidence with our award-winning hair restoration services.
Discover more about hair transplants for footballers in these frequently asked questions.
There’s no research that specifically shows that a hair transplant can improve athletic success, but it’s been shown pretty conclusively that increased confidence can elevate performance on the field [4]. A good hair transplant can substantially boost your confidence, so there may be an indirect link between hair transplantation and athletic performance.
While James Maddison has kept his hair restoration story under wraps, other footballers have come clean about their hair restoration procedures. Danny Ings’s hair transplant was performed at the Wimpole Clinic. Wayne Rooney revealed his hair transplant many years ago, and is often credited with helping reduce stigma around the procedure.
Other players and managers known to have had hair transplants include Jurgen Klopp, Michael Gray, and Ryan Giggs.
It’s not known if James Maddison uses hair fibres, but it’s unlikely that he would use these during training or matches. Hair fibres can get washed out in the rain or if you sweat, which makes them generally unsuitable for footballers and other athletes.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
Dr. Barry Abdelrahimsai (GMC Number 7604040) is an expert in FUE Hair Transplant surgery in London, with a full registration to practice under the GMC. He qualified as a Medical Doctor in 2017 and has been working in a variety of surgical fields until he started specialising in FUE Hair Transplant surgery in 2021 after a number of years in the fields of injectable cosmetic and aesthetic medicine.
His emphasis lies in a holistic approach towards hair loss of different causes, and his background of having both surgical and medical experience, as well as ample experience in the field of General Practice, enable him to offer evidence-based pharmaceutical and surgical treatment of hair loss. Dr. Barry is a crusader of clinical excellence and has a keen eye for detail. Over the years, aside from his special interest in treating male pattern baldness with FUE, he has developed a focus on the reconstructive management of the female brow line and eyebrow reconstruction.
The significant surge in demand for eyebrow reconstruction through follicular transplants has captured his attention, leading him to specialise in this treatment. Employing a bespoke needle rather than a conventional blade, he achieves high density and precise outcomes.
He has a proven track record of achieving exceptionally high hair graft survivability and excels in densely packed incisions, commonly referred to as “dense packing,” while maintaining a natural, mature, yet youthful appearance. Dr. Barry advocates for active patient involvement in their hairline reconstruction, encouraging them to participate in the management and customised design process. He is dedicated to empowering his patients through education and providing them with knowledge on hair loss prevention and reconstruction, aiming to enable them to make informed decisions about their treatment journey.
