EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal respond to Martin Odegaard exit rumours

FootballTransfers can exclusively reveal Arsenal‘s stance on a possible departure of captain Martin Odegaard.

The Norway international has been with the Gunners since joining from Real Madrid on an initial loan in January 2021. Odegaard has been an integral part of Arsenal’s return to the elite of English and European football.

The 27-year-old has made 225 competitive appearances for the North London club, recording 42 goals and 45 assists. Such has been his impact that he was named club captain just a year after being permanently signed.

Odegaard has been sensational for Mikel Arteta, but his availability has been an issue for a few seasons now. Since 2024/25, the attacking midfielder has had seven different fitness issues, missing 33 games.

The summer signing of Eberechi Eze has given Arteta more options to better cope with the absence of Odegaard, while Kai Havertz has also occasionally started ahead of the Norwegian even when he has been fit.

Arsenal respond to Odegaard rumours

In the eyes of some, Odegaard has become almost dispensable because of his injury problems and because he is not putting up the kind of attacking numbers a player of his quality is expected to produce.

His importance to the way Arteta’s team functions is still underappreciated in certain quarters, but Premier League managers certainly know that the 27-year-old is one of a kind. In January, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola said that Arsenal are a completely different team with Odegaard.

“They can use him [Odegaard] sometimes. It’s not the same when they play with Eze, or when they play with Odegaard,” Iraola explained. In recent weeks, though, it has been suggested that the captain could depart Arsenal this summer.

Real Madrid are said to be interested in re-signing their former wonderkid, while Arsenal could be forced to cash in on some high-profile players for financial reasons after accumulating the highest net spend in world football this season.

So, what actually is Arsenal’s stance on Odegaard? It is quite simple. Sources close to the team have informed FootballTransfers that suggestions of a potential exit of the Norwegian are nothing short of “ludicrous.”

Odegaard is happy and settled at Arsenal. Barring any monumental twists between now and the end of the season, the Gunners captain will be going nowhere this summer.

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