Odegaard started playing youth soccer at his local sports club, Drammen Strong, at just six years of age.
In 2009, he moved to Stromsgodset where he would train with older boys which helped him to become a better soccer player. Aged just 13, Odegaard began training with the first team and made his first-team debut in the pre-season of 2012. At the age of 14, Odegaard was training with the junior team with people who were aged 17-19.
Despite being in the first team, Odegaard did not sign a professional contract, meaning he could only play in three first-team games as an amateur. As a 15-year-old it meant that Odegaard was restricted to how much time he could spend with the team as he was still in full-time education.
At 15 years and 118 days, Odegaard made his debut for Stromsgodset against Aalesunds FK and became the youngest player to play in Tippeligaen. Odegaard broke Ulfs Zymer Bytyqi record by just 142 days.
In May 2014, he signed a professional contract with Stromsgodset and 11 days after signing his contract he had scored his first professional goal.
In doing so he became the youngest player to score in the Tippeligaen, scoring in a 4-1 victory against Sarpsborg 08 FF. He ended his first season with the club having scored five goals and contributed seven assists in 23 league games.
In January 2015, Odegaard continued his rise as one of Europe's hottest prospects, moving to Real Madrid for a fee of €3million that could rise to €8-8.5million.
At his unveiling as a Madrid player, the club announced that Odegaard would train with both the first team and the reserves due to his young age to allow him to develop as a player.
Odegaard struggled to settle into life in Spain, there was a language barrier as well as issues with playing for both the first team and the reserves.
He finally made his first appearance for the first team in the final game of the 2014/15 season, becoming the youngest debutant in the history of the club at 16 years and 157 days old.
Two seasons after making his debut for the club, Odegaard made his first start for Real Madrid in November 2016 - 679 days after signing with the club.
To help Odegaard get more first-team soccer, he was sent out on loan by Real Madrid. In 2017, Odegaard joined Dutch side SC Heerenveen on an 18-month deal. In his 15th appearance with the side, Odegaard scored his first goal for the club in a 3-1 loss to FC Utrecht in the first leg of the play-off semi-finals.
At the start of the 2017/18 season, Odegaard became a regular starter, scoring his first regular-season goal for Heerenveen in a 4-0 win at FC Twente. At the end of the season, Odegaard was on the move again, joining another Eredivisie club, SBV Vitesse, for the 2018/19 season.
Odegaard made 39 appearances for the club, scoring 11 times and notching up 12 assists. He spent a lot of his time with the club playing on the right side of the midfield, starting in 29 league games.
He returned to Spain but not to play for Real Madrid, instead to be loaned out to Real Sociedad for one season with the option of recalling the player or extending the loan for an additional season after the first year.
In September 2019, Odegaard was named La Liga Player of the Month. In February 2020, he scored against his parent club to help knock Los Blancos out of the 2019/20 Copa del Rey. His side finished sixth in La Liga, marking the end of a successful personal season for Odegaard.
Odegaard was recalled by Real Madrid before being loaned out again in January 2021 to Premier League side Arsenal. On March 11, Odegaard scored his first goal for the club against Olympiacos in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16.
In the same month, he was named Player of the Month on the Arsenal official website.
On August 20, 2021, Arsenal announced the signing of Odegaard from Real Madrid for €35million with potential add-ons rising to around €40million. Odegaard signed a four-year deal with an option to extend it for a fifth.
Odegaard played for Norway at Under-15, Under-16, Under-17 and Under-21 level. He made his first start for the senior side, becoming the youngest player to do so, at 15 years and 253 days old.
He continued to set records, becoming the youngest player to play in a European Championship qualifier at the age of 15 years and 300 days breaking a 31-year record held by Icelander Sigurour Jonsson.
Odegaard went 18 months without a full international cap before his form with Heerenveen earned him a recall to the Norwegian side. On June 7, 2019, Odegaard scored his first international goal against Romania in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying match, which ended with a 2-2 draw.
In March 2021, Odegaard was appointed captain of the men’s national team at just 22 years of age.
Martin Odegaard's personal life
Odegaard is the son of former soccer player Hans Erik Odegaard. Both of them played for Stromsgodset. Odegaard grew up in a Chrisitan family and has spoken about how his faith has been an important part of his life.
Martin Odegaard's net worth
According to Salary Sport, Odegaard has a net worth of over €26million.
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