Martin Ødegaard grew up in Drammen, Norway, and became one of the most talked-about teenagers in football when he made his debut for Strømsgodset at 15. He became Norway’s youngest-ever international, and Real Madrid signed him in 2015 after a race involving many of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Opportunities at Madrid were limited, and he developed through loans at Heerenveen and Vitesse in the Netherlands and then Real Sociedad, where he became one of La Liga’s best young players.
Arsenal signed him, first on loan in 2021 and then permanently, and he was made captain in 2022. Ødegaard is a creative midfielder with outstanding passing and vision, and he captains Norway.
Playing style
Ødegaard is a creative midfielder with outstanding passing, vision and technique. He usually plays on the right side of central midfield, finding space between the lines and creating chances with precise through balls and crosses. He is also a hard-working presser and leads the team’s defensive effort from the front. As Arsenal’s captain he has become a calm, respected leader, and his development after a difficult spell at Real Madrid is one of the great recoveries of a young career.
International career
Ødegaard became Norway’s youngest-ever international in 2014, aged 15. He has since become captain and one of the leaders of the team that qualified for the 2026 World Cup, Norway’s first major tournament since 2000.
Career in numbers
Since his first senior season in 2013, Ødegaard has made 407 club appearances and scored 76 goals in all competitions for 7 clubs. The 2022/23 season, with 15 goals from 45 matches for Arsenal, remains his highest tally. His busiest campaign was 2023/24, with 48 appearances. So far in 2026/27 he has 4 goals in 8 appearances for Arsenal. The full season-by-season record is in the Stats section of this profile.