Liverpool Circle Norwegian Prodigy as Anfield Joins Elite Club Pursuit

Liverpool have joined an increasingly crowded field of heavyweight suitors monitoring Eirik Granaas, the teenage sensation who's already turned heads at Fredrikstad FK despite being just 16 years old.

The Merseyside club are genuinely interested in the Norwegian midfielder, but they face stiff competition from an impressive array of rivals. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle have all cast admiring glances in his direction, whilst Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund have similarly been linked with the prospect.

Granaas has already etched his name into the history books. Back in June 2025, the midfielder became the youngest ever to make his Eliteserien bow, achieving the feat at just 15 years and 90 days old. That remarkable achievement came at the expense of Martin Odegaard's longstanding record—the Arsenal and Norway international had previously held the distinction since his 2014 debut for Stromsgodset.

To date, the teenager has mustered 13 first-team appearances for his club, netting once along the way.

There's a significant catch for Liverpool and their rivals, however. Under Norwegian regulations, Granaas cannot be officially signed until he reaches 18 in 2028, meaning any move remains a distant prospect despite the current clamour for his services.

Those who've worked closely with the youngster have been thoroughly impressed by his maturity and professionalism. Simen Rafn, Fredrikstad's right-back, spoke glowingly about Granaas to VG back in June 2025, highlighting not just his technical gifts but his character. "He's got fantastic ability, but it's his mindset that impresses me most," Rafn reflected. "He was with us at training camp as a 14-year-old, and he comes in and takes the locker room from the first day."

When pressed on comparisons to Odegaard, Rafn urged patience and perspective. "Eirik is very young. You can say an incredible amount of nice things about Eirik, but I think we should give him time," he said. "A football career is incredibly long. It's not about how good you are when you're 15. Eirik will be at the top in 10–15 years. As long as he trains hard and has his feet on the ground, he can get as far as he wants."

Granaas himself has been measured in his response to the inevitable Odegaard parallels. Speaking to VG in June 2025, the midfielder acknowledged the flattery while keeping his focus firmly on his own journey. "It is, of course, fun, but I think I should not compare myself to him," Granaas said. "He is an incredibly good footballer. I'm just going to be the best I can be for myself, and try to get as far as I can."