Celtic have secured the free transfer of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with the former England international signing a contract until the end of the current Scottish Premiership campaign, and the deal also includes an option that allows the club to extend the agreement by a further 12 months if both parties are satisfied.
The 32-year-old arrives as Celtic chase the Scottish Premiership title, with Celtic currently in third place, sitting six points behind leaders Hearts, while also holding a game in hand over the Edinburgh club, which keeps Martin O'Neill's side firmly in contention as the season enters a decisive phase.
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill outlined the thinking behind the move, stressing the value of Oxlade-Chamberlain's background at elite
clubs and the impact that experience could have on the squad's push for silverware, especially with Celtic balancing domestic pressure and expectations from supporters.
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill said: "We are really pleased to bring Alex to Celtic. He still has so much to offer the game, and I am sure he can add another dimension to us with his great ability and wealth of experience in the game. Above all, he is passionate and excited about this move himself, so we are welcoming a great player who is hungry to help us achieve as much as we can. "
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had been a free agent since leaving Besiktas, has spent recent months training with former club Arsenal to maintain match fitness, and explained that conversations with the Celtic coaching staff, including O'Neill and Shaun Maloney, convinced Oxlade-Chamberlain that this move aligns with personal ambitions and the competitive environment sought.
Speaking to Celtic TV, Oxlade-Chamberlain said: "It's been a busy few days but I'm delighted and really excited. 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. Just talking to the manager, and Shaun Maloney as well, who told 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. "
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a Celt #WelcomeAlex | #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/XxbH8qUSOJCeltic Football Club (@CelticFC) February 7, 2026
Oxlade-Chamberlain first moved into the Premier League when Arsenal signed the midfielder from Southampton in August 2011, and during time at the Emirates Stadium Oxlade-Chamberlain collected three FA Cup winners' medals before choosing to join Liverpool ahead of the 2017-18 season for a fresh challenge under Jurgen Klopp.
At Liverpool, Oxlade-Chamberlain became part of a squad that captured major honours under Klopp, lifting the Premier League title and the Champions League, while also contributing to successes in the EFL Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup, reinforcing the midfielder's reputation for performing at the top level.
That experience across English and European competitions is backed by a recent spell in Turkey, where Besiktas signed Oxlade-Chamberlain on a three-year contract in August 2023, and the move yielded immediate silverware when the midfielder helped Besiktas secure the Turkish Cup in the first season before the contract ended by mutual consent in August, leaving Oxlade-Chamberlain free to assess new options.
Key trophies from Oxlade-Chamberlain's club career are shown below.
With Celtic still hunting down Hearts in the Scottish Premiership and holding that game in hand, the arrival of Oxlade-Chamberlain adds further depth and title-winning know-how to O'Neill's group, while the short-term deal plus extension option gives both Celtic and Oxlade-Chamberlain flexibility as they assess performances later in the season.
