Arsenal have
agreed to re-sign Norway international Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid in a deal
worth an initial £30 million. The attacking midfielder, who has signed a contract
until June 2026, is fully vaccinated and will not need to quarantine, Sky
Sports reported.

The
22-year-old could feature in the Premier League against Chelsea on Sunday if he is registrated by Friday afternoon. Odegaard was at Arsenal’s London
Colney training ground earlier today to complete his medical formalities.

Odegaard made
20 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions last season since arriving on
loan in January and scored two goals, one of which came in the North London Derby
win over Tottenham Hotspur in March.

There is no
buy-back clause in the deal for Odegaard’s transfer, although Real Madrid have the “right
of first refusal”, meaning the club will be allowed to match any future bids Arsenal receive for the player, football journalist Fabrizio Romano reported.

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Odegaard’s
transfer effectively ends the rumours about Arsenal’s pursuit of Leicester City
attacking midfielder James Maddison, who was heavily linked with a move to the
Emirates for much of the summer.

The Norwegian is
Arsenal’s fourth summer signing, after centre-back Ben White from Brighton (£52
million), central midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht (£15 million)
and left back Nuno Tavares from Benfica (£7 million) as Arsenal look to better
an eighth-place finish last season that saw them miss out on European football
for the first time in 25 years .  

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Arsenal’s
only sale of the window so far has been academy product Joe Willock, sold to
Newcastle United for a fee around £26 million.

Arsenal are also currently pursuing a deal for Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, with
reports indicating the clubs are close to agreeing a transfer fee believed to be around
£20 million.

Meanwhile,
reports indicate Barcelona are interested in a swap deal for Arsenal captain
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and are willing to offer former Liverpool midfielder
Philippe Couthinho in exchange for the Gabon striker.