Aston Villa and Inter target Martin Odegaard 2026 summer

Aston Villa and Inter Milan are both preparing to pursue Martin Odegaard this summer, according to Fichajes, with Arsenal considering selling the 27-year-old Norwegian captain after two consecutive seasons disrupted by fitness issues that have significantly reduced his contribution at the Emirates.

Odegaard has not completed 2,000 minutes of league football this season, a figure that reflects just how fragmented his campaign has been. He came off in the 57th minute of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday, immediately raising fresh doubts about his availability heading into the title run-in.

The player himself will not make a decision on his future until after the 2026 World Cup, where Norway return to the tournament for the first time in many years. Fichajes report, however, that Arsenal are actively mulling over their options and that a sale is being discussed internally.

Why Aston Villa want Martin Odegaard

Emery’s side have become heavily reliant on Morgan Rogers as their primary creative force in the final third. Adding a player of Odegaard’s calibre and intelligence would give Villa a genuine world-class option in the number ten role and reduce that dependency considerably.

Villa’s likely Champions League position for next season also makes them a credible destination. Odegaard is a player who has operated in the Champions League consistently throughout his career and will not want to step down to Europa League football. A Villa side competing at the highest European level next season closes much of the gap in prestige between staying at Arsenal and moving on.

Inter Milan’s case for Martin Odegaard

Simone Inzaghi’s side are combing the market for a creative midfielder as the age profile of their current options becomes a pressing concern. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Hakan Calhanoglu and Piotr Zielinski are all in the latter stages of their careers, and Nicolo Barella needs a high-quality creative partner rather than ageing support players around him.

Odegaard’s profile fits that requirement precisely. He has made nearly 250 appearances for Arsenal across all competitions since joining permanently for £30m in 2021, contributing 42 goals and 45 assists, and his peak-level intelligence in tight spaces is exactly what Inter’s attacking midfield picture is missing.

What an Odegaard exit would mean for Arsenal

Selling the club captain in the same window as potentially winning the Premier League title would be a significant and complex decision for Arteta and the Arsenal board to navigate. The case for keeping him, fitness permitting, remains strong. He is 27 and has shown consistently when available that he is one of the finest playmakers in Europe.

The case for selling rests entirely on the injury frequency. Two seasons of significant absences at a club competing on three fronts is a real operational problem, and if Arsenal’s medical team cannot provide firm reassurances about his durability going forward, the summer may represent the moment to cash in at a high valuation before his situation becomes any more complicated.