Arsenal and Chelsea are leading the way in the battle for Norwegian star Gabriel Rajkovic, with the 15-year-old considered one of the most exciting young players in European football.
Rajkovic is enjoying a record-breaking 2026 and has already established himself in Vålerenga’s first-team squad despite his age. His remarkable progress has attracted the attention of some of the world’s biggest clubs.
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Sources can reveal that both Arsenal and Chelsea have gathered extensive reports on the teenager after following him closely throughout the summer.
Both Premier League giants were also present in August when Rajkovic scored his first goal in the top division against Bodø/Glimt, further underlining the interest in his development.
But Arsenal and Chelsea are by no means alone in keeping an eye on the Norwegian.
TEAMtalk can confirm that Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all been following Rajkovic in recent weeks, while Newcastle United, Brighton, Brentford, Aston Villa, Leeds United and Sunderland are also monitoring his progress after being made aware of his outstanding potential.
The interest extends across Europe, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Inter Milan, Juventus and Como among the clubs that have scouted for the youngster.
The extent of this interest reflects Rajkovic’s extraordinary development and the belief in the scouting community that he has the qualities needed to become a top player.
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Feedback from scouts who have followed Rajkovic closely, where his physical profile and versatility are big draws.
One scout told TEAMtalk: “His physique, the fact that he’s bipedal and his ability to play both centrally and on the wing is a big appeal. He may only be 15, but he’s already a very impressive figure.
“It’s hard to compare him to anyone. There’s no one like him for his age—probably not in the world now.”
Rajkovic was promoted to Vålerenga’s first team in January, at just 14 years old, before signing a long-term professional contract with the Norwegian club when he turned 15 in March.
He made his debut for the first team in the opening match the same month and became the youngest player in the history of the Eliteserien at 15 years and 20 days – thus beating Martin Ødegaard’s previous record.
The breakthrough has continued at a remarkable pace, with Rajkovic scoring his first senior goal in August.
Although he did not break Ødegaard’s record as the youngest goalscorer in the tournament, the performance still placed him in extraordinary company – especially considering that Erling Haaland had to wait until shortly after his 17th birthday to score his first goal in the top division.
Born in Oslo, Rajkovic has a Serbian background, but is committed to representing Norway and is already a youth national team player for his country.
For Arsenal and Chelsea, the teenager represents another opportunity to secure one of Europe’s most highly-rated new talents before his value and profile increase further.
However, with virtually every major recruitment operation in Europe now familiar with Rajkovic, the battle for his signature is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting young player races to watch.
Meanwhile, it seems that an elite star from PSG has made a decision to join the Gunners in 2027, with any switch being subject to one main condition.
Arsenal’s next immediate priority will be to announce a contract extension for manager Arteta, while sources can reveal that three other key Arsenal stars are also set to sign on the dotted line, with talks over contract extensions ongoing.
From doing well in the first half of the season, it has been slower lately. Vålerenga is down to 11th place in the Eliteserien after Saturday’s away loss against Lillestrøm.
