THE A TEAM
Mbappe, Ronaldo, Haaland, Hazard, Rashford, Benzema, Bellingham... Alsanawi arrived in Britain age nine from Iraq, now he’s cutting hair of world’s best. Welcome to...
HE has taken the barbering world by storm.
Meet entrepreneur Ahmed Alsanawi, who could not speak a word of English when he moved here from Baghdad, in Iraq, aged nine.
“I found school very hard and I always getting into trouble,” he said, as the buzz of his clippers echoed around the walls of his Chessington-based barbers.
Better known as ‘A-STAR’, his ever-growing empire of A-list celebrity clients is dominated by some of the top names in world football – not least Kylian Mbappe, Jack Grealish and recentlyretired Eden Hazard.
His most remarkable gigs have included transforming the appearance of Jose Mourinho just hours after he was dismissed by Chelsea.
After achieving a college diploma in fine art, Ahmed felt disgruntled by his lack of direction in life. But the one place he found purpose was the barbers. A-STAR, 32, added: “I just loved the vibe within the shop. I used to get my hair cut twice a week in Clapham and then I’d go home and make my own adjustments to the style. It became a fascination.”
It was the start of a life-changing journey, one that now sees Ahmed receive widespread recognition as a master of his craft.
After earning his stripes with the scissors in Tolworth, Ahmed took the plunge and opened his own shop – A Star Barbers – in 2013. One decade on, he simply has not looked back.
His lively Surrey hub, which charges £25 for walkin haircuts, soon began to profit from its geographical location as Chelsea’s academy stars began to take a shine to A-STAR’S work.
Ruben Loftus-cheek, Dominic Solanke and Fulham’s Tom Cairney would all swing by after training, but it was a phone call from Chelsea captain John Terry that would prove to be the gamechanger.
The Blues required a new barber, so off he went into Cobham every Thursday – sometimes twice a week – to give players such as Hazard, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas a makeover.
“I knew Hazard was retiring months ago, but don’t rule out a comeback,” he said, with a teasing smile.
“I’m gutted he didn’t go to Inter Miami – that was my way in with Lionel Messi.”
Just months after Terry’s call, A-STAR was summoned for a buzzcut by Mourinho so the Special One could sneak out of Chelsea’s training ground unnoticed after being handed his P45.
“I had to shave his hair off because he didn’t want to be recognised,” the father-ofthree said.
“He had to leave out the back and I didn’t know what to say.” A-STAR’S Instagram
A phone call from Chelsea captain John Terry was the game-changer
page, which now boasts 1.1million followers, quickly took off and Paul Pogba was next in touch after signing for Manchester United.
Every cut and style was going viral and Pogba loved his hair so much he elected A-STAR as France’s team barber at the World Cup in Russia, where they later lifted the trophy in Moscow.
He continues to work with Pogba, Mbappe, France and England at tournaments, but wants out by 35 to prioritise time with his family.
That is why A-STAR is also investing in properties alongside his conjoining coffee shop and tattoo parlour, with his newlylaunched product ‘Fini’ set to hit Superdrug shelves next February.
But until then he will keep travelling the world, charging “the most premium prices” – and if you want a slice of the cake, his message is simple: “I wouldn’t touch anyone for small money.”