Martin Ødegaard

Born

1998-12-17

Birthplace

Drammen, Buskerud fylke, Norway

Biography

Martin Ødegaard is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for 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; Ødegaard won the Copa del Rey with Real Sociedad in 2019. Following another loan, he signed for Arsenal in 2021 in a transfer worth an initial £29 million (€35 million). After a successful first full season with Arsenal, he was announced as the club's captain in 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.