Martin Odegaard could be sold next summer if Arsenal cannot agree a new contract with their captain, and Bayern Munich have already discussed him internally.
That is the headline from Sky Sport Germany on Friday morning. The broadcaster says Odegaard can imagine playing for Bayern in the future, and that other clubs have already made enquiries about him.
There is no panic at N5 just yet. Only initial informal talks have been held over a new deal, and his current contract runs until 2028.
Is Martin Odegaard leaving Arsenal for Bayern Munich?
Not imminently. Sky’s line is that Arsenal would be open to selling next summer only if no agreement is reached, so the door opens on the back of failed talks rather than any desire to move him on.
Bayern’s interest is also less advanced than the headlines suggest. Odegaard and the German club have been in contact repeatedly in recent years without a transfer ever materialising, and it is unclear whether there has been a fresh approach recently.
The 27-year-old is said to be a target for Vincent Kompany’s side but not a priority yet. There is also a suggestion his camp could be using Bayern’s “timid” interest to push Arsenal towards an improved deal.
Why Arsenal want the Martin Odegaard contract settled this season
Odegaard has a little over 20 months left, and the plan is to avoid him entering his final year. That means getting an extension done before this season ends.
It fits how the Gunners have worked for the past 18 months. Gabriel Magalhaes and Myles Lewis-Skelly signed new deals in June 2025, Ethan Nwaneri followed that August and William Saliba agreed a five-year contract later that year.
Bukayo Saka then put pen to paper on a long-term deal on 19 February 2026, with his old contract due to expire in June 2027 and clubs in the Premier League and Europe monitoring the situation.
What do the numbers say?
Odegaard joined on loan from Real Madrid in January 2021 before making the move permanent later that year for a reported fee of around €35m. Mikel Arteta has since made him captain, and he has 46 goals and 47 assists for the club.
Last season was a frustrating one, with a goal and eight assists from 1,984 minutes across 36 matches as injuries limited his game time. He spoke in September about being happy to put that behind him.
This term has been better: four goals and an assist in 994 minutes from 14 matches, including two Premier League goals in eight starts. He also started the 2-2 Champions League draw with Bayern on 21 October, and he is in our predicted lineup for Sunday’s trip to Anfield, a 4.30pm kick-off.
Should Arsenal sell Martin Odegaard to Bayern Munich?
I’d only sell if the numbers he wants stop making sense. Arsenal have been ruthless about not letting contracts drift, and they are right to treat their captain no differently from Saka or Saliba.
The timing is awkward, though. Fleetwood exposed how thin the front line already is, and the Gunners are even hoping Odegaard’s Norway connection can help them land Antonio Nusa from RB Leipzig. Losing him would leave a far bigger hole than one transfer window could fill.
My read is that this is a negotiation playing out in public, and that a new deal is still the likeliest ending. Get it signed by the spring and Bayern can go back to discussing him internally for another few years.
