Martin Ødegaard

Player Profile

Martin Ødegaard (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈmɑ̀ʈːɪn ˈø̀ːdəˌɡoːɾ]; born 17 December 1998) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for and captains both Premier League club Arsenal and the Norway national team. Ødegaard began his senior club career at age 15 in 2014, playing for Strømsgodset; he set the Tippeligaen record for its youngest goalscorer, and in 2015, signed for Real Madrid in a transfer worth an initial €4 million (Kr. 35 million), where he set the club record for its youngest player. After enduring sporadic playing time, Ødegaard joined Eredivisie clubs Heerenveen and Vitesse, and La Liga club Real Sociedad, on successive loans between 2017 and 2019; winning the Copa del Rey with Real Sociedad in 2019. Following a six-month loan with Arsenal in the second half of the 20–21 season, he signed for them on a permanent deal in August 2021, in a transfer worth an initial £30 million (€35 million), and was announced as the club's captain in July 2022. Ødegaard made his senior international debut for Norway in 2014, at age 15, and has set the record for the youngest senior Norway player, and the youngest player to play in a UEFA European Championship qualifying match. He assumed the full captaincy of Norway in March 2021.

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