Martin Ødegaard is 27 years old in 2026, born on 17 December 1998. Norway Midfielder for Arsenal.
| Appearances | 2 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Yellow Cards | 0 |
| Red Cards | — |
| Goals / Match | 0.50 |
📖 Martin Ødegaard: Biography & Story
Arsenal's captain: Norwegian midfielder who was born to play football.
When Real Madrid signed a 16-year-old Martin Ødegaard from Strømsgodset for €3 million in January 2015, it was one of the most-covered transfers in football history. Every elite club in Europe wanted him, and Madrid moved quickest. What followed was a difficult half-decade of loan spells at Heerenveen, Vitesse, Real Sociedad and finally Arsenal (January 2021), where he finally found the perfect environment.
Arsenal made the loan permanent for £30 million in August 2021, and the decision transformed both the player and the club. Ødegaard became the creative brain that Arteta's Arsenal had been searching for: intelligent positional play, brilliant short combinations, an eye for the through ball and the confidence to take the game by the throat in big moments. He was appointed club captain in August 2022.
His transformation from world's most hyped teenager to reliable, serial-winning captain is one of football's best development stories. Where once the pressure seemed overwhelming, Ødegaard now carries Arsenal, and Norway, with calm authority.
🗺️ Career Journey
Youngest Norwegian senior international at 15; signed Real Madrid shortly after
Spent most time on loan; was part of Madrid squad but rarely played
First loan spell at Dutch side
Real breakthrough: consistent senior football in Eredivisie
Excellent La Liga season; Copa del Rey winner
Immediate impact prompted permanent signing
£30m permanent; captain since August 2022
🏆 Honours & Achievements
👨👩👦 Personal Life & Family
Martin Ødegaard was born on 17 December 1998 in Drammen, Norway. His father Hans Erik was his first coach, and it quickly became apparent that Martin was no ordinary talent. He became Norway's youngest ever senior international at 15 years and 253 days in 2014. The story of the "boy wonder" from Strømsgodset captured the imagination of the entire football world.
Ødegaard is in a relationship with Helene Spilling, a Norwegian influencer. He is extremely close to his father Hans Erik, who guided his early career and was his coach at Strømsgodset. He has spoken about how his father taught him to love football rather than treat it as a pressure: a mindset that has helped him handle the enormous expectation placed on him from a very young age.
💡 Did You Know?: Martin Trivia
He became Norway's youngest ever senior international at just 15 years and 253 days old in 2014.
Real Madrid signed him at 16. Every major club in Europe tried to, including Barcelona, Liverpool, Man United and Chelsea.
He went through five loans over five years before finally finding his home at Arsenal.
He scored an iconic winner against Aston Villa in March 2024 to keep Arsenal's title race alive: one of the Premier League season's great moments.
He is the first Norwegian to captain a Premier League club.
Martin Ødegaard has 1 goal and 0 assists this season. A solid Fantasy XI pick from Arsenal.
Add Martin to Fantasy XI →