Martin Ødegaard has begun legal proceedings against Norwegian tabloid Se og Hør, alleging a violation of his family’s right to privacy after the publication ran a story disclosing the location and photographs of his new home in England.
The Arsenal captain, who recently celebrated his marriage to long-term partner Helene Spilling with a private ceremony in her hometown of Gjerdrum, is represented by English solicitor Tim Lowles, who issued a formal complaint to the publication’s editor.
“The article describes the location of our client’s recently purchased family home and includes photographs of it,” Lowles wrote. The letter, published by Se og Hør, argues that the coverage represents a significant infringement of Ødegaard’s privacy, in violation of protections enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.
The contested material was published both in Se og Hør and its partner outlet Dagbladet, and included specific information about the couple’s property in an unnamed village approximately 30 kilometres northwest of London. The tabloid also reported that Ødegaard paid 103 million Norwegian kroner for the residence, equivalent to just under £7.7 million.
The publication is refusing to remove the articles claiming the information is in the public interest.
Ødegaard, 26, and Spilling, 29, have maintained a deliberate silence around their personal life, making only minimal public statements. In December 2024, they announced the birth of their son via social media, writing, “We love you so much, our little baby boy.” The marriage itself was legally registered in November last year, but the ceremony was kept under wraps until last week.
The wedding, attended by several of Ødegaard’s Arsenal teammates, was characteristically understated. Guests began arriving at Oslo’s Gardermoen airport last Friday via a procession of private jets, with Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Kai Havertz among the familiar faces spotted.
On Saturday, the pair were wed at Gjerdrum Church, exiting to the sound of All You Need Is Love and cheers from well-wishers, before departing in a vintage car. The reception was held at Gamle Logen, a neoclassical venue in central Oslo, and included performances by Jonas Benyoub, Dagny, and a surprise appearance by Norwegian rap duo Karpe.
Though Ødegaard remains intensely private off the pitch, the legal action marks a rare public intervention from the Norway international, highlighting his determination to rightly protect his family’s privacy.
