Arsenal have agreed to a deal with Real Madrid to sign attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard on a permanent basis. The deal is said to be around Ksh3.8 billion in fee plus bonuses.
The 22-year-old had made 20 appearances during the second half of last season with Arsenal where he got two assists and a goal in the Premier League after failing to break into the Real Madrid team under Zinedine Zidane.
Odegaard left Arsenal after his loan deal and returned to Real Madrid. However, the fans have called on the club to re-sign him this summer.
Odegaard previously left Madrid on a temporary basis to play for Heerenveen, Vitesse Arnhem and Real Sociedad. However, since the Gunners have been hunting for a creative midfielder, the Norwegian, who captains his country, has always been at the top of Mikel Arteta's wish list.
If he is registered by Friday, August 18, Odegaard will be available to face Chelsea ahead of the Sunday’s, August 22, EPL game.
With the transfer window closing on August 31,Arsenal are also edging closer to signing Sheffield United shot-stopper Aaron Ramsdale. Ramsdale was left out of the squad that faced West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday, amid interest from Arsenal.
The Gunner’s Premier League campaignl started with a defeat 2-0 at Brenford on Friday, August 13.
Arteta made it clear at the end of last season that he wanted the Norwegian star to return to the Emirates on a permanent basis after a successful loan spell with the Gunners.
Odegaard will join Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares as the Spaniard's signings this summer.