Arsenal have agreed a fee with Real Madrid for Martin Odegaard, 90min has learned.
We exclusively revealed last week that the two clubs were back in talks about the transfer of the Norwegian captain, and now sources close to the club have confirmed that the talks have been completed and he looks set to return to the Premier League.
The 23-year-old comes with a deal worth 40 million euros – only shy of 35 million pounds – which makes Odegaard the most expensive Norwegian of all time in the process.
While the two clubs have been talking, Real gave Arsenal permission to take part in discussions with the player’s representatives and it is believed that personal terms are almost agreed.
When the “finer details” of the deal are completed, Odegaard will sign a five-year contract in north London.
Odegaard spent the second half of last season on loan at Arsenal and impressed enormously, but he returned to the Spanish capital in hopes of getting the chance to push for a place in Real’s first team.
But during the pre-season it became clear to Odegaard that he did not intend to run a place under the new Real manager Carlo Ancelotti.
When Arsenal found out about the situation, they were quickly back in contact with Real, as he was always their goal one. Confidence quickly began to grow in their camp, and it was clearly well placed.
Odegaard has barely been with Real since he came from Strømsgodset in 2015. He has played less than ten matches for their first team and spent much of his time away from the club on loan with Heerenveen, Vitesse Arnhem, Real Sociedad and Arsenal, among others.
Now he is ready for a permanent transfer to London, and Arsenal are convinced that the deal will be completed before their huge weekend match with Chelsea. To register him in time for that match, Arsenal must complete the signing for lunch on Friday.
Capturing Odegaard will also take Arsenal’s summer spending through the £ 100m barrier, having already landed Ben White, Nuno Taveres and Albert Sambi Lokonga – but they still hope to add more before the end of the month.
A goalkeeper is high on their agenda, with talks underway with Sheffield United about the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale.
