A former English player for Liverpool and Arsenal, a Champions League winner, has officially made his return to British football after spending a couple of years in Turkey.
On Saturday, Feb. 7, Celtic officially announced the signing of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who signed a contract with the Hoops for six months until the summer, with an option to extend for another year.
“It’s been a busy few days, but I’m delighted and really excited,” he said. “Speaking with the manager, it just felt like the perfect fit for me, and I feel like I can come in and help out the lads,” he added.
He also said, “Just talking to the manager, and Shaun Maloney as well, who told me the expectations on the club and what it means to play here, what our targets are, and that he’s going to push me. That’s all the stuff I identify with, and that’s the environment I’ve always been in and been lucky enough to be in.”
“It’s exactly what I need. I need another challenge, and lucky enough at a massive club like this. And they can help me get back to where I need to get to and, more importantly, I need to help the team achieve the goals we want to do.”
Manager Martin O’Neill stated, via Celtic Xtra, that Oxlade-Chamberlain “still has so much to offer the game” and can “add another dimension” with his ability and experience, noting that the midfielder himself is “passionate and excited” about playing at Celtic Park.
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Ready to Relaunch His Career
At 32, Oxlade-Chamberlain is remembered as a veteran of nearly 40, mainly due to his significant trophy haul.
The Portsmouth native won the UEFA Champions League (2018/19), the Premier League (19/20), the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup (2020) with Liverpool, as well as the EFL Cup in 2022.
On the other hand, during his time with Arsenal, he also won several titles, including three FA Cups and three English Super Cups. More recently, he won the Turkish Cup with Besiktas in the 2023/24 season.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has returned to British football and hopes to relaunch his career by helping Celtic stay alive in the Scottish Premiership and advance as far as possible in the Scottish Cup and the UEFA Europa League.