With Norway continuing to progress at the World Cup, Arsenal fans have received some good news that Martin Odegaard is not in talks to join Galatasaray.
Reports from Turkey last week suggested that Martin Odegaard’s agent was in Istanbul, and that the player’s camp had reached an agreement with Galatasaray over personal terms for a potential summer transfer.
But these reports have now been widely refuted, with Sam Dean of The Telegraph writing that Odegaard hasn’t been in talks to join Galatasaray, and that his agent wasn’t even in Turkey.
Tom Canton confirms for the Mirror that the rumours are entirely without foundation, and that Odegaard’s agent has been with him in the United States for the World Cup.
Canton’s report adds that Odegaard is believed to be very happy at Arsenal, and that the club are equally pleased with him. The player has had bad luck with his fitness over the last 12 months, but Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal squad continue to back him fully.
On the subject of Odegaard’s fitness, he continues to play full matches at the World Cup, which is both a good thing and a bad thing.
The positives are that he’s finally able to complete consecutive 90-minute games. Odegaard completed eight full matches during the entire 2025/26 club season, but he’s already managed three in just five games at the World Cup.
On the other hand, Norway’s continued progression means Odegaard’s summer break is being further delayed. A win over England this weekend would see Norway remaining at the tournament until at least the third-place play-off on July 18th, if not the final on July 19th.
From there, a minimum of three weeks off would mean an earliest possible return for Arsenal’s final pre-season friendly against Como 1907. And that would be the very soonest he could be back.
So whilst it’s great Odegaard is proving his fitness, there may be consequences for Arsenal down the road.
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