Manchester City have bolstered their squad with the signing of 18-year-old Norwegian midfielder Sverre Nypan from Rosenborg BK for a reported £12.5 million (€15 million), marking a record-breaking transfer for a player from the Norwegian Eliteserien. The versatile teenager, hailed as the "next Martin Ødegaard," has signed a five-year contract with the Premier League giants until 2030, with plans for a season-long loan to further his development. This acquisition underscores City’s proactive approach in the 2025 transfer market, as they aim to rebuild their squad under Pep Guardiola’s guidance following a trophyless 2024/25 season.
A Rising Star from Norway
Sverre Nypan’s journey to Manchester City is a testament to his meteoric rise in Norwegian football. Born in Trondheim, Nypan began his career at local club Nardo FK before joining Rosenborg in January 2022. At just 15 years and 322 days, he became Rosenborg’s youngest-ever player when he debuted in a 4-2 victory over Jerv on November 6, 2022. Less than a year later, in May 2023, he etched his name into the club’s history books again by becoming their youngest-ever goalscorer at 16 years and 145 days.
Since his debut, Nypan has amassed an impressive 70 senior appearances for Rosenborg, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists across various competitions. In the 2024 Eliteserien season, he played 28 of 30 league matches, netting eight goals, including a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Lillestrom, helping Rosenborg secure a fourth-place finish and a spot in Conference League qualifying. His performances have also earned him five caps for Norway’s Under-21 side, showcasing his potential on the international stage.
Sverre Halseth Nypan our midfield is set for the future
— Jacky (@MCFC_Jacky) July 17, 2025
pic.twitter.com/hlYlh8QbCn
His Potential
Nypan’s playing style has drawn inevitable comparisons to Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard, another Norwegian prodigy who broke through in the Eliteserien as a teenager. While both players share technical finesse and exceptional passing abilities, Norwegian journalist Andreas Korssund notes that Nypan is more of a box-to-box No. 8, contrasting with Ødegaard’s flair as a dribbling No. 10. “He is someone who controls the game from midfield,” Korssund said, predicting that Nypan could become “one of Europe’s absolutely best midfielders.”
Nypan’s versatility is a key asset. He has played primarily as a central midfielder (44 games) but has also featured as a false nine (seven games) and attacking midfielder (four games) for Rosenborg. His high football IQ, maturity, and ability to contribute both defensively and offensively make him an ideal fit for Guardiola’s system, which values multi-faceted players. Bastian Schmitz, a market value analyst for Transfermarkt, praised Nypan’s “exceptionally high football IQ for his age,” noting his ability to adapt to various roles despite early-season growing pains.
