Manchester City have secured the services of 18-year-old Norwegian midfielder Sverre Nypan from Rosenborg for $17 million on a five-year contract. The deal contains no additional clauses or sell-on fees, representing one of the largest transfer fees ever received by a Norwegian club.
Nypan made history as Rosenborg\'s youngest senior player when he debuted at 15 years, 322 days old. The attacking midfielder has accumulated nearly 5,000 minutes of first-team football despite his age, significantly more experience than compatriot Martin Odegaard had at the same career stage.
The teenager gained international attention after an impressive performance against Manchester United in a pre-season friendly last July. His display in Rosenborg\'s 1-0 victory generated widespread social media coverage and increased scouting interest from major European clubs.
City are expected to loan Nypan initially rather than integrate him directly into the first team. The Norwegian possesses technical ability and vision but requires physical and tactical development to compete at Premier League level.
Nypan\'s versatility allows him to operate as both a traditional number 10 and a box-to-box midfielder. His combative nature and work rate distinguish him from purely creative players, offering tactical flexibility for future deployment.
The transfer represents a windfall for Rosenborg, whose annual revenue has been approximately £15 million in recent seasons. The £12.5 million fee equals 83 percent of the club\'s 2024 revenues and exceeds their annual wage bill of £8.7 million.
For City, the signing will add £2.7 million in amortization costs to their 2025-26 financial calculations. Subsequent years will see annual charges of £2.9 million through the 2029-30 season under current accounting standards.
\"He is not ready for the Premier League now,\" said Norway national team manager Stale Solbakken. :It would surprise me if he enters the Premier League right away. There must be a way-station there, but they may have a plan for that.\"
Nypan\'s injury record remains relatively clean, with only one significant absence in May 2023 lasting approximately two months. The midfielder has represented Norway through various youth levels and currently features for the under-21 national team.