Arsenal have reportedly held early, informal talks with Martin Ødegaard’s representatives over a new contract, and their captain is open to joining Bayern Munich in the future.
According to a report from Sky Sport Germany, Ødegaard can see himself playing at the Allianz Arena, as his representatives and the Bavarian giants have repeatedly been in contact over the past few years without ever agreeing on a deal. It describes a line of communication rather than a negotiation: no fee has been discussed, and Bayern have not made an approach.
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Ødegaard‘s contract runs to 2028, and Arsenal want to move fast. The Gunners want to avoid their captain starting 2027-28 in the final year of his deal, when his value would drop, and a free transfer in 2028 would become a genuine risk.
The same report claims that a first exploratory conversation has taken place and that Arsenal would consider a sale in the summer of 2027 if they can’t agree on a contract extension with the star midfielder. Enquiries from other leading European clubs have also already arrived.
Bayern’s position is less urgent; the German champions are well stocked in central midfield, with Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlović, Tom Bischof, Jamal Musiala, Ismael Saibari and Lennart Karl. Ødegaard is not on their current list of priority targets. Sky notes that he reportedly trained with Bayern as a 15-year-old in 2014, under Pep Guardiola, before choosing Real Madrid.
The Gunners skipper is 27 and is coming off the strongest team season of his career. Arsenal won the 2025-26 Premier League title and reached the Champions League final. Ødegaard recently faced Bayern in a 2-2 draw in the UEFA Champions League in Munich, setting up Eberechi Eze’s opener before Declan Rice equalized late.
Martin Ødegaard’s numbers for Arsenal in his career with the Gunners: Goals, assists, trophies and more
Ødegaard joined permanently from Real Madrid in the summer of 2021, after a six-month loan, for a €35 million fee. In 248 competitive appearances for Arsenal, he has scored 46 goals and provided 47 assists. His 2022-23 campaign remains his most productive in front of goal, with 15 Premier League goals from midfield.
He has won three trophies in his stint with the North London club so far: the 2023 Community Shield, the 2025-26 Premier League title, which ended the Gunners’ 22-year wait for a league crown, and the 2026 Community Shield, where he scored the third goal in a 3-0 win over Manchester City in Cardiff and was named man of the match.
Edited by Vignesh Raja
