Martin Odegaard completes move to Arsenal from Real Madrid

Norway international joins Gunners on a five-year contract but will not be registered in time to play Chelsea

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 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 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

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

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 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.

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