Arsenal have signed Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard, holder of the Spanish league title, on loan until
the end of the season, the two clubs announced on Wednesday.
Odegaard, 22, has played only three games with Real in the league this season, and previous speculation
indicated that he might return to local competitor Real Odegaard, who spent the last season with him on
loan and helped him finish sixth and qualify for the European League.
“It is great to ensure that Martin is with us until the end of the season,” Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta was quoted
by Reuters in a statement.
The Spanish coach added, “Although he is still a young man, he played at the highest level for a while and will
provide us with good attacking options and we are eager to include him in our plans from now until May.”
Odegaard, who started his international career with Norway at the age of 15, joined Real Madrid when he was 16
in 2015, but found it difficult to play regularly in the first team.
It is loaned to Heerenveen and Vytes Arnhem in the Netherlands.
Earlier, Arteta said that he is looking to include new elements after the departure of some players, including
playmaker Mesut Ozil, who moved to Fenerbahçe, Turkey, after leaving Arsenal’s squad in the Premier League
and European League this season.
Arsenal relied on Emily Smith Roy to replace Ozil, but Odegaard will give the London team the required depth
amid its attempts to rise in the standings during the second half of the season.
Arsenal are eighth with 30 points from 20 matches.
