Fact Check: Is Martin Odegaard Leaving Arsenal in the 2026 Summer?

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard isn’t going anywhere. Despite the recent rumours about a potential exit in the 2026 summer window, he remains fully committed to the club. Sources close to the team confirm the Norwegian playmaker is happy at the Emirates and has already started early talks about a new contract extension.

While reports out of Germany link the Gunners to Bayer Leverkusen talent Ibrahim Maza, the club clearly see Maza as a depth option for the squad rather than a replacement for their leader. According to FotMob, Odegaard’s current deal runs until June 2028, giving the Arsenal board plenty of control against interest from clubs in Italy or Spain. Plus, his recent major brand deal with Adidas suggests he’s planning for a long-term future in the Premier League.

His numbers from the 2025/26 season back up his importance to the team, with 1 goal and 5 assists in 21 appearances so far. Even with some injury setbacks earlier this year, his average FotMob rating of 6.97 shows he still dictates play whenever he’s on the pitch. Mikel Arteta continues to publicly back his captain, and those at the training ground have dismissed the exit talk as nothing more than outside noise. For the fans, it’s clear the club are prioritising his quality and leadership as they push for trophies this spring.

Will Arsenal risk losing their captain to European giants?

Success always attracts attention from rivals, but the bond between Arteta and Odegaard is a cornerstone of Arsenal’s future. The speculation about a 2026 departure likely comes from the club scouting young players like Ibrahim Maza, rather than a real desire to sell Odegaard.

Leading a young team takes a specific kind of character, and the Norwegian has built a culture of discipline that you can’t just buy on the transfer market. Some critics point to his injury spells as a sign of decline, but his underlying stats, including being in the 96th percentile for shot attempts among midfielders, show his attacking qualities are still there.

Selling him now would mess with the dressing room chemistry and send the wrong message to teams like Real Madrid or Manchester City. With his valuation around €71.7M, any club trying to sign him would have to pay a massive premium for a player who, at 27, is entering his prime.

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Instead of listening to the rumours, the Gunners should focus on those contract talks to shut down the speculation for good. Stability is everything in football right now, and keeping this core group together is Arsenal’s best shot at finally winning the Premier League title.