Martin O’Neill and Joe Hart selling Celtic move to Oxlade-Chamberlain

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The Celtic Star

·3. Februar 2026

Martin O’Neill and Joe Hart selling Celtic move to Oxlade-Chamberlain

There seems to be much more to the transfer deadline day story linking Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to a move to Celtic…

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain attends a training session of Arsenal FC ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Arsenal FC and SK Slavia Praha at Sobha Realty Training Centre on November 03, 2025 in London Colney, England. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images)

The former England international is a free agent and has been training with Arsenal for an extended period so despite being without a club the player remains fully fit, if not match fit.

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Today Martin O’Neill was asked at his pre-match media conference about the link to Oxlade-Chamberlain with the mainstream hacks (we’re still banned by the way) probably expecting the Celtic manager to dismiss it entirely or maybe just give very little away.

Instead Martin confirmed that he has been in discussion with the player who has plenty of options and may end up staying closer to home in the London area, but he is interested in joining Celtic.

Martin also revealed that Oxlade-Chamberlain has been speaking to former Celt Joe Hart about playing for Celtic and you can only imagine the glowing endorsement that Big Joe would have given Celtic.

Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart sings on the megaphone infront of the fans after the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC v St Mirren at Celtic Park Stadium on May 18, 2024. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Asked if Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a player that he quite likes, the Celtic manager replied: “I do, I genuinely do, yes. He has trained at Arsenal for some time since his time in Turkey.

“I spoke to him and yeah. But I mean, I’m sure he’ll have lots of options. Maybe closer to London as well too, like anything else. Yeah, but he was very happy.”

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain attends a training session of Arsenal FC ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Arsenal FC and SK Slavia Praha at Sobha Realty Training Centre on November 03, 2025 in London Colney, England. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images)

Asked if a move for Oxlade-Chamberlain is something the club are pursuing, he said:

“I would be very interested in doing it. But as I said to you, one, I’m surprised that people haven’t taken him up closer to the area. And yeah, he’s telling me he’s been training with Arsenal for quite some considerable time. And so in terms of fitness, it’s not match fitness, but we’ll see. He’s got loads of options.”

Another question on this brought the Joe Hart revelation to light. The journalist asked: In terms of Oxlade-Chamberlain, has there been any indication from him or his camp that he’d be keen to move here?

Martin replied: “I think he was very excited about what we were saying. Listen, he knows about the football club, he’s a big friend of Joe Hart’s, and Joe has spoken to him, and not on our behalf. That was a conversation he had with Joe.

“But listen, it’s fine, it’s something that would be interesting. If it doesn’t materialise, it doesn’t materialise.”

You would imagine having spoken to both Joe Hart and Martin O’Neill, there is indeed a real chance that the 32 year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain might just fancy a chance to wear the Hoops and experience an incredible club. That brilliant send-off that Joe Hart was given by (whisper it) the Green Brigade certainly has had a major impact.

Imagine Oxlade-Chamberlain arriving at Celtic Park on his first match-day, walking out and as he looks over to the front of the North Curve all he sees in the green covering over the seats of the supporters Michael Nicholson banned.

Watch Martin O’Neill’s latest media conference below…

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order