Arsenal confirms £30m signing of midfielder Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid.

Arsenal have confirmed the £30million signing of Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid.

Manager Mikel Arteta decided to bring back the Norwegian playmaker who spent the second half of last season on loan at the Emirates Stadium.

He impressed in his 20 appearances for the Gunners, scoring twice and setting up two further goals. He has been handed the No 8 shirt at The Emirates after signing on a permanent basis.

The Norway international of 30 appearances could make his debut in the London derby against Chelsea on Sunday August 22.

Odegaard’s signing is Arsenal’s fourth summer recruit following the singing of defender Ben White, left-back Nuno Tavares from Benfica, midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht, with 23-year-old Aaron Ramsdale set to join too.

It takes the club’s spending to £102m as the Gunners aim to improve on last season’s eighth-place finish in the Premier League, which saw them miss out on European football for the first time in 25 years.