EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal close in on Nypan for record transfer fee

Steve Kay

• Updated: 26 Feb 2025 07:18 CST
• 4 min read

Arsenal are far ahead of any other club in the race to sign Rosenborg playmaker Sverre Nypan, FootballTransfers understands.

Although there is strong interest from Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa in the 18-year-old midfielder, Arsenal have already offered the teenager a five-year deal and have agreed personal terms with the player.

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Current ETV

Sverre Halseth Nypan

M (C)

Rosenborg

Sverre Halseth Nypan

M (C)

Rosenborg

€14.7M

ETV Range

€13.2M - €16.1M

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Although a final decision has yet to be made by Nypan, it is expected that this will be made soon and it is anticipated by sources close to the deal that he will become a part of the Gunners’ first-team squad next season.

FootballTransfers has been told that the Norwegian is set on playing for Arsenal. A development plan has been put in place and communicated to him by Mikel Arteta, which he is very excited about.

Tottenham and Aston Villa have also presented a development plan that Nypan liked, but he feels Arsenal is the best destination for him. Compatriot Martin Odegaard, who he has often been compared to, has been a big influence on Nypan’s final decision.

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Sverre Nypan: Record-breaking transfer in sight

Arsenal are also the only club up to this point that have been willing to put an offer on the table. Although this has been reported to be worth €10 million, FootballTransfers has been told that it could reach as much as €15m, highlighting the Gunners’ belief that Nypan will become a star.

This figure dovetails with Nypan’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV), which stands at €14.7m.

This will smash the record transfer fee paid for a Rosenborg player, which currently stands at the €8.5m that Valencia paid to sign John Carew in 2000.

Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) explained

Our Player Valuation Model calculates an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) for more than 240.000 players in the world.

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Our Player Valuation Model calculates an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) for more than 240.000 players in the world. It uses information on the player's skill, potential, performance, contract duration, position and other statistics to estimate an accurate ETV.

Read more here.

Nypan had been expected to complete a move in January and his father has indicated that the teenager’s camp have no intention of drawing out the transfer saga longer than it needs to be.

“We know the clubs interest in Sverre. It’s been very important. It’s not been interesting to be a pawn in a big game,” he told VG.

“The clubs that are very interested are also very understanding of this choice and think it is completely okay. Sverre should be part of a long-term project and a generational change.

“He hasn't played a game since the first of December. When he signs in the summer and hopefully has been injury-free, he will be at his best. It is much better to show him off with that starting point.

“We are not going to wait until the summer window opens to make a decision.”

FootballTransfers understands that the decision is almost made, with Arsenal set to secure the talented teen.