According to TV2, the Gunners have been watching Granaas since last June, when he made his Eliteserien debut aged 15 years and 90 days — surpassing the record Odegaard had held for around a decade. RB Leipzig have also been tracking the teenager for some time and are considered serious competitors for his signature. Liverpool are also monitoring his progress.
The connection to Odegaard runs deeper than the record. Granaas grew up in Drammen, the same city as Arsenal's captain, and the comparisons in style and background have already attached themselves to his name in Norway. His father, Lars Granaas, was a professional footballer, and his older brother Sondre Granaas plays for Molde in the top flight. Fredrikstad's sporting director has confirmed there is significant interest from major European clubs.
Any move to England would face a significant obstacle. Post-Brexit rules prevent Arsenal from signing a player under 18, meaning Granaas could not join until 2028 at the earliest. That restriction gives clubs in Germany and elsewhere a meaningful advantage — RB Leipzig in particular could move this summer and integrate him into their development structure before he reaches that age threshold.
Granaas is contracted to Fredrikstad until December 2027 and is valued at approximately €3.5 million, a figure that would not trouble any of the clubs involved. He is also the second-youngest goalscorer in Eliteserien history.