Celtic Keen On Free Agent Who Was A Former Liverpool Star: Why He Would Bolster Their Title Hopes | OneFootball

According to the interim Celtic boss Martin O’Neill, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain might join them as a free agent in the coming days.

The former Arsenal and Liverpool star has been training under Mikel Arteta in recent months after his contract with Besiktas was terminated last summer. But the Gunners could also snap him up on a short-term contract in the wake of Mikel Merino’s long-term injury.

Told the veteran Northern Irish boss (as quoted by The Express), citing that money won’t be an issue to bring him to Parkhead.

The 32-year-old former England international progressed through Southampton’s academy ranks but was eventually signed by the Gunners after an impressive campaign in League One. After six seasons and 198 first-team appearances, Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Liverpool for £35m in the summer of 2017.

LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 03: 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)

Although his time at Merseyside was plagued by injuries, the Englishman contributed to their Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and EFL Cup triumphs before joining Besiktas on a Bosman.

He featured 50 times for them over the past two seasons, but was frozen out by Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the former Rangers boss, early into the 2024-25 season. Ole Gunnar Solskjær brought him back to the first team a year ago, but the club parted ways with him on 27th August, a day before the Norwegian was relieved from his duties as the Black Eagles boss.

Why His Arrival Should Boost Celtic In The Title Race

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been without a club ever since, but is now ready to finish the season strongly, having worked on his fitness in North London. It remains to be seen whether Arteta brings him back to the Emirates, but a move north of the border would also be a fascinating challenge, given the three-horse Premiership race among Celtic, Rangers and the league leaders Hearts.

The Hoops tied down five players on loan in the January window. Julian Araujo and Benjamin Arthur have been brought in to bolster the backline, whereas Tomáš Čvančara, Junior Adamu and Joel Mvuka should boost their attack for the remainder of the season. However, they have not strengthened their midfield in the winter, and Oxlade-Chamberlain, with his enormous experience and all-round traits, would challenge and cover Benjamin Nygren and Arne Engels for the ‘number 8’ spots.