Norgaard stays at Arsenal despite his dream of leaving

Danish midfielder Christian Norgaard, 32, will not be leaving Arsenal this summer. That’s according to a Danish source, which claims the player is so attached to the club that he would be willing to “play for free” to stay in London.

Norgaard, who made just seven Premier League appearances in his first season with the Gunners, had been widely expected to leave after just one year at the club. Yet, according to the latest reports, his departure is “not a possibility” for this summer transfer window. The Dane, who signed a two-year contract last summer, even confirmed in October 2025 that Arsenal would be his last club abroad before returning to Brøndby IF when his contract expires. *“I can guarantee that Arsenal will be my last club abroad—I still want to return to Brøndby when my contract with the Gunners is up,”* he said at the time. Christian Norgaard is living out his “lifelong dream” at Arsenal, despite limited playing time. His passion is such that he would even consider staying without a salary. Farzam Abolhosseini, a journalist for Tipsbladet, emphasized this point during a podcast: *“I would be shocked if this happened. I think people sometimes forget just how much of an Arsenal fan he is. Just look at the photos of his arrival a year ago.”* The Dane, who has supported the club his whole life, even has his son wearing the Gunners’ shirt. *“I’m almost convinced he would play for free for them. It means so much to him. From that perspective, I don’t see how he could want to leave.”* His recent career has been a mixed bag: after captaining Brentford and making 34 appearances under Thomas Frank in the club’s final Championship season, he managed just one Premier League start last year as Arsenal won the title. Despite the limited game time, his loyalty to the club appears unshakable—so much so that he wants to extend his London adventure beyond his current deal, which runs until 2025 with an option for an additional year. Arsenal remains active in the transfer market, with a strong interest in Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimarães, according to FourFourTwo. Mikel Arteta is keen to strengthen his midfield before the 2026/27 season, with Norgaard among four central midfielders available alongside Englishmen Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly, as well as World Cup winner Martin Zubimendi. Valued at €5 million by Transfermarkt, the Dane could continue his London journey, even as the club explores other options to bolster its squad.