• Arsenal's Martin Odegaard during the Premier League match against Chelsea on May 12, 2021. Odegaard spent the latter half of that season on loan at the Gunners, but will not be registered in time to face the Blues this Friday after completing a switch to Arsenal on a five-year contract. AFP
    Arsenal's Martin Odegaard during the Premier League match against Chelsea on May 12, 2021. Odegaard spent the latter half of that season on loan at the Gunners, but will not be registered in time to face the Blues this Friday after completing a switch to Arsenal on a five-year contract. AFP
  • Martin Odegaard during his loan spell at Arsenal in the 2020/21 season. AFP
    Martin Odegaard during his loan spell at Arsenal in the 2020/21 season. AFP
  • Martin Odegaard of Norway and Walid Abbas of UAE during an international friendly at Viking Stadion on August 27, 2014 in Stavanger, Norway. Odegaard is Norway's youngest ever international at age 15. Getty Images
    Martin Odegaard of Norway and Walid Abbas of UAE during an international friendly at Viking Stadion on August 27, 2014 in Stavanger, Norway. Odegaard is Norway's youngest ever international at age 15. Getty Images
  • Martin Odegaard during a loan spell at Dutch club Heerenveen in 2017/18. Getty Images
    Martin Odegaard during a loan spell at Dutch club Heerenveen in 2017/18. Getty Images
  • Martin Odegaard of Real Madrid in action against Steven Davis of Rangers during the pre-season friendly at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, Britain, 25 July 2021. EPA
    Martin Odegaard of Real Madrid in action against Steven Davis of Rangers during the pre-season friendly at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, Britain, 25 July 2021. EPA
  • Martin Odegaard shown during Norway's friendly against the UAE on August 19, 2014 in Norway. EPA
    Martin Odegaard shown during Norway's friendly against the UAE on August 19, 2014 in Norway. EPA
  • MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 23: Martin Odegaard of Real Madrid in action during the La Liga match against Getafe at the Bernabeu on May 23, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images
    MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 23: Martin Odegaard of Real Madrid in action during the La Liga match against Getafe at the Bernabeu on May 23, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images
  • Martin Odegaard scored two goals during his initial loan spell at Arsenal, including a cracker in the Norrth London derby against Tottenham on 14 March, 2021. EPA
    Martin Odegaard scored two goals during his initial loan spell at Arsenal, including a cracker in the Norrth London derby against Tottenham on 14 March, 2021. EPA
  • Arsenal's Martin Odegaard, centre, celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Europa League match at the Karaiskakis Stadium, Greece. PA
    Arsenal's Martin Odegaard, centre, celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Europa League match at the Karaiskakis Stadium, Greece. PA

Martin Odegaard completes move to Arsenal from Real Madrid


Steve Luckings
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Arsenal have completed the permanent signing of Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid for a fee of £30 million ($40.8m) plus add-ons.

The Norway midfielder, 22, returns to the Gunners on a five-year deal having spent the second half of the 2020/21 season on loan at the Emirates Stadium.

He made 20 appearances in all competitions scoring two goals, including a memorable one in the North London derby win over Tottenham Hotspur on March 14.

Odegaard becomes the Gunners’ fourth summer signing after the arrivals Ben White, Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga.

It brings to an end Odegaard's six-year stint on Madrid's books, one that was punctuated by a succession of loan spells away from the Bernabeu.

Odegaard joined the Spanish giants as a 15-year-old prodigy in January 2015 from Stromsgodset in his homeland and later spent two seasons on loan at Heerenveen, before temporary stints with Vitesse Arnhem, Real Sociedad and Arsenal.

He is both Madrid and the Norway national team's youngest ever player but would go on to make only 11 appearances for Real's first team. He has 30 caps for Norway.

Odegaard will be given the No 8 shirt - one worn by his new manager Mikel Arteta during his Arsenal playing days.

He will not be available for the Gunners’ Premier League clash with Chelsea on Sunday as Mikel Arteta’s side look to bounce back from the opening day defeat to Brentford.

Romelu Lukaku trains with Chelsea ahead of Arsenal match

  • Chelsea's new £97.5m signing Romelu Lukaku during an open training session at Stamford on Wednesday, August 18.
    Chelsea's new £97.5m signing Romelu Lukaku during an open training session at Stamford on Wednesday, August 18.
  • Romelu Lukaku wins a header during training.
    Romelu Lukaku wins a header during training.
  • General view of Chelsea's open training session at Stamford Bridge.
    General view of Chelsea's open training session at Stamford Bridge.
  • Thiago Silva, Romelu Lukaku and Jorginho during training.
    Thiago Silva, Romelu Lukaku and Jorginho during training.
  • Thiago Silva and Romelu Lukaku during the open training session.
    Thiago Silva and Romelu Lukaku during the open training session.
  • General view of Chelsea training at Stamford Bridge.
    General view of Chelsea training at Stamford Bridge.
  • Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner at Chelsea's Cobham training ground on Tuesday
    Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner at Chelsea's Cobham training ground on Tuesday
  • Romelu Lukaku during training at Cobham.
    Romelu Lukaku during training at Cobham.
  • Mason Mount and Romelu Lukaku training at Cobham.
    Mason Mount and Romelu Lukaku training at Cobham.
  • Romelu Lukaku during his unveiling as a Chelsea player on Monday.
    Romelu Lukaku during his unveiling as a Chelsea player on Monday.
  • Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea's Cobham training ground.
    Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea's Cobham training ground.
  • Romelu Lukaku during his unveiling as a Chelsea player on Monday.
    Romelu Lukaku during his unveiling as a Chelsea player on Monday.
  • Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea's Cobham training ground.
    Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea's Cobham training ground.
  • Romelu Lukaku during his unveiling as a Chelsea player.
    Romelu Lukaku during his unveiling as a Chelsea player.
Updated: August 20, 2021, 8:37 AM