Image Credits: Imago Images
Former Liverpool man Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain became a free agent after his contract with Besiktas was mutually terminated in August.
The 32-year-old midfielder, who spent six years at Arsenal before joining Liverpool in 2017, departed the Turkish club with a compensation package of €1.75 million (£1.5 million).
Since becoming available, Oxlade-Chamberlain has turned to Arsenal’s training facilities to maintain his fitness while seeking a new club.
The former England international has been spotted training with Arsenal’s Under-21 squad at London Colney, continuing a tradition that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has maintained with former players.
“If we can help him, if we can give him the space for him to get up to speed and have the capacity to find a club, it is a joy,’” Mikel Arteta of his return.
“The boys will learn from it. I had the privilege to play with him, and if he is around, he will be a really good role model to have around the team.”
Now Oxlade-Chamberlain has opened up on his plans for his next move while speaking on the Ben Foster podcast:
“It’s a different situation for me to be in. I had it when I came out of Liverpool, and obviously I was a free agent, saw my contract out there. I had it for a month or two but then the season kicked off and I signed in Turkey, I think 14th of August. So, it wasn’t too long. It wasn’t like now.”
“Now is obviously the season’s well and truly underway and it’s that awkward bit of waiting of like you’re missing out and you want to be playing, so it’s different.”
“It’s a it’s not a nice situation for any footballer to be in. I’m fortunate enough that I’ve put myself in the situation where I can choose what’s best for me and I’ve said no to things, there’s more in play now, family, children, be a bit more selective, ultimately the whole thing is you want to get back playing and going again as soon as possible.”
The former Liverpool man then revealed that playing in Turkey was difficult for his family and that he is planning to make the move to a club in England this time around:
“I want to be back in England. And it’s just waiting for the right thing to pop up back here or close enough that that makes sense for a family thing.”
“I think once you have children it changes things. It’s not all just about me now and completely about football. It needs to suit that as well.”
“I’ve had offers and I’ve had to say no to them because it wasn’t right for me and for us. So then your pool comes down to, you know, you’re saying, I want to be here. Then it’s just waiting for the right thing, the right project, something I can be excited about, to go into and hit the ground running hopefully.”
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