The former Liverpool and Arsenal playmaker looks on the verge of a blockbuster move to Celtic Park
22:27, 04 Feb 2026Updated 22:42, 04 Feb 2026
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain training with Besiktas
View Image
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain training with Besiktas(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Celtic are reportedly closing in on a deal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – but must land him within the next 24 hours if he is to be registered for their next Europa League squad.
The free agent midfielder has been the subject of firm interest from Parkhead as he hunts his next club and there was no need for Celtic to rush it through before the transfer deadline since free transfers can be registered any time.
He's been training with his former club Arsenal to keep his fitness up and reports had suggested he wanted to be near London after the birth of his second child. But now it's understood he is relishing the opportunity of joining the Premiership champions.
The Herald report that talks between the club and the player have advanced with an agreement 'moving closer' that could see him immediately enter O'Neill's squad for the Scottish Cup tie with Dundee at the weekend if a deal is reached.
It's added that the situation is high priority for O'Neill and if he gets it over the line on Thursday that would see Oxlade-Chamberlain in the mix be added to the European squad to face Stuttgart. The deadline for that is Thursday evening – two weeks out from the first leg at Parkhead on February 19.
He would become Celtic's sixth winter signing after the deadline day arrivals of Joel Mvuka, Junior Adamu and Benjamin Arthur followed the earlier arrivals of Julian Araujo and Tomas Cvancara.
O'Neill spoke honestly about talks with Oxlade-Chamberlain in a Sky Sports interview on Wednesday, before their game with Aberdeen was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
He told Chris Sutton in the sitdown: "We were speaking to Oxlade-Chamberlain. I think he's working down on his training at Arsenal at this moment. Arsenal may even offer him a contract, I think that that's the case. I was astonished that it hadn't been picked up.
Article continues below
"I know it, he was talking about the difficulties out in Turkey. But someone of that sort of experience would have been, would have been great.
"It may still happen because he's out of contract, he will have a number of options probably closer to home. But if that materialised, that would give us something."