Arsenal are ‘increasingly confident’ that captain Martin Odegaard will agree to sign a new contract as negotiations over his Emirates Stadium future are ‘progressing well’.
That is according to ESPN, which reports that Arsenal believe Odegaard is prepared to sign a new contract. He is currently only locked down in north London until June 2025 on the same deal the 24-year-old signed in August 2021. It would be his first improved deal since joining.
Emirates Stadium chiefs handed Odegaard a four-year contract worth £120k-a-week to seal his transfer from Real Madrid. But manager Mikel Arteta has since given the Norway skipper the club’s captaincy. The 53-cap maestro took on the armband before the 2022/23 season.
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Arsenal are ‘increasingly confident’ Odegaard will sign a new contract
Arsenal have offered Odegaard significantly improved terms to convince the Drammen-born playmaker to pen a new contract. According to Spotrac, his existing terms place Odegaard in the same region as Reiss Nelson. He signed a £100k-a/w deal this July to stay put until 2027.
Now, the Gunners hope to tempt Odegaard to commit his future to the club until June 2027. Arsenal are expected to offer the 5 ft 10 star, who has become a lynchpin of Arteta’s system, an extension of at least two years. ESPN does not site the value of his likely improved salary.
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Odegaard has led by example since becoming the Gunners’ captain
Odegaard will net a considerable pay rise with any new deal, though, to represent his higher standing in north London. Arsenal only handed him a £120k-a/w deal in August 2021 after a solid spell on loan. The midfielder initially moved on loan from Real Madrid in January 2021.
His efforts over a six-month stay at Emirates Stadium convinced Arsenal to spend £34m for Odegaard’s permanent transfer. Arteta has since continued to develop the midfielder and he ended last term as their joint-best goalscorer with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka on 15.
Arsenal’s skipper also led by example with eight assists from his 45 appearances. Only Saka with 11 and Leandro Trossard with 10 offered more assists over 2022/23. Odegaard has also started this term with two goals in five games to share the lead with Saka and Eddie Nketiah.