Ultimate Football Heroes: degaard

As the son of a former footballer, Martin degaard spent his early years at local Norwegian sports club Drammen Strong and, at the age of 10, joined the youth division at Strmsgodset where he trained with older players. By the age of 15, degaard was playing in the UEFA Champions League and even represented Norway in a friendly against the UAE, making history as Norway’s youngest-ever national team player.

In 2015, degaard caught the eye of Real Madrid where he trained with both the first team and the reserves. In 2021, degaard moved to Arsenal where he quickly became an essential part of the team and was named captain ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Discover how this midfielder from Norway balanced a full-time education with a burgeoning football career to hone his skills. From training and playing with opponents many years older and representing his country aged just 15, to holding the captaincy for both Norway’s national team and Arsenal.