Martin Odegaard has signed a five-year contract extension with Arsenal, which will see him remain at the club until 2028.
Odegaard penned a new deal with the Gunners on Friday, September 22, 2023, and this development is a thrilling one for Arsenal supporters.
Martin Odegaard joined Arsenal initially on loan on January 27, 2021, for a loan fee of €2 million.
He was impressive during his loan spell at the North London club, scoring 1 goal and providing 2 assists in 14 appearances.
The Norwegian’s remarkable showing during his loan spell convinced Arsenal to sign him permanently on August 20, 2021, for a fee of €35 million.
Mikel Arteta named Martin Odegaard as captain ahead of the 2022/23 season, and he has since shown his excellent leadership abilities.
Odegaard made 45 appearances for Arsenal last season, and he scored 15 goals and provided 8 assists.
He was outstanding for the Gunners last season, leading the club’s charge for the English Premier League title.
Unfortunately, Arsenal couldn’t end their 19-year wait for the league title last season, as they buckled under pressure from Manchester City, to finish 2nd on the table.
The Premier League runners-up have had an outstanding start to the 2023/24 season, as they remain unbeaten in the Premier League and in Europe.
Mikel Arteta’s side have recorded 4 wins and 1 draw in 5 league matches, while in Europe, they thumped PSV Eindhoven 4-0 in their return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2017.
Martin Odegaard first permanent contract with Arsenal
Martin Odegaard’s previous contract at Arsenal was set to expire on June 30, 2026, having signed a five-year deal in 2021, when he joined from Real Madrid.
Odegaard has said that signing a new contract at Arsenal “was a really easy decision for me for lots of reasons.”
The 24-year-old stressed that he wants to be part of the project ongoing at the club, and he has found a place he can call his home.
Martin Odegaard said: “I’m really excited for what’s to come here. I’ve found a place where I can be really settled and call my home.”
The former Real Madrid midfielder is also the captain of Norway, and he has made 53 appearances for the national team, scoring 3 goals and providing 10 assists.
Mikel Arteta on Martin Odegaard’s contract extension
Sharing his thoughts over the contract extension of his captain, Mikel Arteta also had encouraging words to say about Odegaard.
He said: “Martin signing a new long-term contract is such good news for everyone connected with Arsenal.”
Additionally, Arteta emphasized on Martin Odegaard’s leadership traits, saying:
“He is our captain and a hugely respected person at our club, who is a great role model and professional, bringing quality and maturity in everything he does.”
Martin Odegaard has scored 3 goals and provided no assists in 7 appearances for Arsenal this season.
He is the current holder of the Player of the Season award at Arsenal, having been recognized for his immense contributions in the 2022/23 season.
