Celtic Tie Down This Veteran Midfield Ace For Next Season: Right Move By O’Neill? | OneFootball

If a recent transfer update from Graeme Bailey is believed to be true, Celtic have successfully tied Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain down to a longer contract. The Hoops took time to exercise the one-year extension clause, but have now managed to retain the versatile midfield ace, fending off interest from several Premier League, as well as Spanish, Italian and MLS clubs.

The 32-year-old 35-capped England international progressed through the esteemed ranks of Southampton before securing a senior status in League One. Arsenal snapped him up in the summer of 2011, and he went on to make 198 appearances for the Gunners over six seasons before plying his trade at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp. Despite persistent injury woes, Oxlade-Chamberlain played his part in the Reds’ title glory. After 146 games, he left the club on a Bosman for Turkish outfit Beşiktaş.

However, things did not go as planned in Turkey, as the Three Lions veteran had his contract terminated last summer. Having spent six months without a club, Martin O’Neill snapped him up in February for the remainder of the previous campaign. He only featured 12 times for them and was not even involved during the decisive fixtures of their Premiership title run-in. But his profound experience and flexibility have helped him emerge as a key figure in the dressing room, convincing O’Neill to have him at Parkhead for at least one more season.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MAY 16: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Celtic warms up before the William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian at Celtic Park on May 16, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Why Celtic Have Made The Right Call By Retaining Oxlade-Chamberlain

Although the Hoops have maintained their supremacy in Scottish football over bitter rivals Rangers, the Northern Irish boss has reiterated the necessity of reinforcements after a couple of dreadful transfer windows. The Light Blues have already tied down five new names and are closing in on more signings since appointing Derek McInnes as Danny Rohl’s successor. But the Celts seem not to have learnt from their mistakes, as they have yet to bolster the squad with summer additions.

Amid growing frustration among the fans, keeping hold of Oxlade-Chamberlain would be a boost, given the current conundrum in the centre of the pitch. Reo Hatate and Paulo Bernardo are likely to part ways after falling down the pecking order, and the strong interest from a host of top European clubs would force Celtic to let Arne Engels depart this time, having knocked off a sizeable bid from Nottingham Forest late in the winter window.

Nevertheless, the champions of Scotland must bring in a couple of starters in midfield, with the Englishman likely to appear sporadically alongside skipper Callum McGregor. O’Neill should opt for players who would offer both physical and technical expertise as deep-lying playmakers, and it remains to be seen whether they step up transfer talks before the season starts.