diff --git a/neutron/conf/plugins/ml2/drivers/ovn/ovn_conf.py b/neutron/conf/plugins/ml2/drivers/ovn/ovn_conf.py
index 52a22909d46..77f16d99d7b 100644
--- a/neutron/conf/plugins/ml2/drivers/ovn/ovn_conf.py
+++ b/neutron/conf/plugins/ml2/drivers/ovn/ovn_conf.py
@@ -176,6 +176,10 @@ ovn_opts = [
                        "See the ovn-nb(5) man page for available options.")),
     cfg.BoolOpt('ovn_emit_need_to_frag',
                 default=True,
+                deprecated_for_removal=True,
+                deprecated_since='2025.1',
+                deprecated_reason=("The option is useful only on very old "
+                                   "Linux kernels (version < 5.2)."),
                 help=_('Configure OVN to emit "need to frag" packets in '
                        'case of MTU mismatches.\n'
                        'You may have to disable this option if you are '
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/deprecate-ovn_emit_need_to_frag-f27859b234213d12.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/deprecate-ovn_emit_need_to_frag-f27859b234213d12.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2e253a216bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/deprecate-ovn_emit_need_to_frag-f27859b234213d12.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+deprecations:
+  - |
+    The ``ovn_emit_need_to_frag`` option is now deprecated for removal. The
+    config option will removed in the ``2026.1`` release.