Martin Ødegaard has not shut the door on Bayern Munich. According to Sky Sport Deutschland reporter Florian Plettenberg, the 27-year-old Norwegian can imagine a move to Munich at some point in his career, and the German champions have been in regular contact with his representatives for several years without a transfer ever materialising.
Bayern are not pressing the issue right now. Plettenberg’s report is clear that Ødegaard is not on the club’s priority list in his position, and Vincent Kompany’s squad has no urgent need for a creative midfielder at this moment.
What has changed is the clock in north London. The Norwegian’s deal runs until the summer of 2028, and Arsenal are actively working on an early extension to keep him out of the final year of his contract.
The 2027 fallback
If an agreement cannot be reached, Arsenal would consider selling him next summer rather than let him approach free agency. Multiple other elite European clubs are also tracking his availability, according to the Sky Sport Deutschland report, though none have been named.
Read also: LeBron James took a sip of a fan’s wine mid-game
That timeline is why a report about long-standing Bayern contact matters now rather than two years ago. One failed negotiation would hand a buyer the only summer in which Ødegaard can still be sold for a meaningful fee, and Bayern’s camp has already spent years making itself familiar to his representatives.
Form has returned
The season has helped Arsenal’s cause. After an injury-hit 2025-26 campaign, Ødegaard has four goals and one assist in 14 appearances across all competitions this term, back in his influential role under Mikel Arteta.
The Norwegian joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in the summer of 2021 for a reported €35m, and his Arsenal career now stands at close to 250 appearances with 46 goals and 47 assists, per Yahoo Sports.
Arsenal faced Bayern in the Champions League league phase recently and drew 2-2, with Ødegaard back in his usual position behind the striker. Both benches got a close look at a player each has reason to value.
Read also: Fabrizio Romano breaks silence on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s potential Liverpool return
For Arsenal, that is precisely the problem. Ødegaard has captained the club through a Premier League title and a Champions League final defeat on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain, and losing him on a free transfer in 2028 is the scenario the sporting department is paid to prevent.
Bayern’s own midfield has reasons to want him. Jamal Musiala’s injuries have thinned Kompany’s creative options this season, with much of the attacking workload now falling on Michael Olise.
Talks already under way
Informal contract discussions have already started, and the expectation on both sides remains that an extension is the likeliest outcome. The club has made keeping its captain a priority for the current campaign.
The current deal has about 20 months left to run, and Arsenal want a new one signed before next summer.
Read also: Mourinho on Güler: ‘This kid is special’
Read also: Spanish footballer dies after collapsing on pitch during league match
