Martin Odegaard’s journey from a much-hyped teenager to the top of the Premier League has not been a straightforward one.
Tipped for greatness as a 15-year-old, the Norwegian was snapped up by Real Madrid in 2015, before a series of loan spells saw him turn out across Europe before finally settling in north London.
Arsenal moved for the midfielder in January 2021, initially signing him on loan from Real Madrid, before sealing a permanent move for the Norway skipper that summer.
Ordegaard on his journey to Arsenal
Now in his fifth full season at the Emirates and having been handed the captain’s armband at the start of the 2022/23 campaign, the 27-year-old is well and truly settled in London.
“For sure,” Odegaard tells FourFourTwo when asked if London feels like home. “Moving around so much was good in one way, because I learned a lot and had to adapt, whether to different teams, different coaches or different cultures.
“But at the same time, you miss something. You miss stability, the feeling of being in one place and really belonging.
“That’s what I’ve found here at Arsenal and in London. From the first moment I walked into the training ground, I felt as if I belonged here.
“I felt at home, and that allowed me to settle properly. It’s a nice feeling to be part of something for a long time – to be part of a process, to grow together, to keep getting better. When I came here, we weren’t where we are now.
“To be part of that journey means a lot to me,” he continues, before adding that this connection stretches beyond club football.
“It’s the same with the national team,” adds the Norway skipper, who is preparing to lead his country at their first World Cup since 1998 this summer.
