Martin Odegaard has completed a medical at Arsenal ahead of a loan move from Real Madrid.
Arsenal have agreed to sign the 22-year-old on loan until the end of the season, with the deal expected to be confirmed in the next 24 hours.
Odegaard has made it clear he wants to leave Real Madrid this month in order to play regular first-team football, having played just nine times in all competitions for the Spanish club this season.
Real Sociedad were keen on re-signing Odegaard after his season-long loan stint last year, but it is thought Real Madrid’s preference was to send him to a club outside La Liga.
Odegaard registered seven goals and nine assists across 36 appearances on loan at the La Liga side last season, leading Real Madrid to cut short his two-year loan and make him part of their first-team squad.
A number of Premier League clubs were also interested in Odegaard, including Leicester, although the Foxes opted not to pursue the Norwegian international after preliminary discussions.
Odegaard’s completed medical comes two days after the departure of attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil, who has joined Fenerbahce from Arsenal on a free transfer.
Odegaard will become Arsenal’s second signing of the January window after the club secured the services of Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan on a loan deal until the end of the season.