Arsenal to sign LaLiga’s best midfielder Ødegaard

Considered by many to have been the best midfielder in Spain last season after a headline season on loan with Real Sociedad, Martin Ødegaard is set to leave Real Madrid on loan once more, this time to Arsenal.

The 22-year old was signed by Madrid from Strømsgodset in 2015 at the age of just 16, and straight away looked destroyed by the pressure. However, a loan move to Real Sociedad last season saw Ødegaard burst into life with four goals and six assists in 32 games, helping lift La Real to sixth in the table, and a Copa del Rey final with some dazzling midfield displays.

Returning to Real Madrid this season, Ødegaard was expected to become a key member of Zinedine Zidane’s squad, but much like many of Madrid’s recent purchases, such as Luka Jovic, Achraf Hakimi and Marcos Llorente, Zidane failed to integrate the new signing into his side.

Ødegaard let the club know he wanted to leave on loan this January to play regular football, and after approaches from Real Sociedad and Ajax, Arsenal made a late push, with manager Mikel Arteta helping seal the deal with a personal phone call.

Ødegaard will now travel to London in the next few days to complete the deal, replacing the departing Mesut Ozil who today was finally confirmed as a Fenerbache player.