A move for the free agent to Celtic Park is on with Martin O'Neill keen to bring him in the door
07:00, 05 Feb 2026
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Free agent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has insisted playing regular games is key for him at this stage of his career as he closes in on a move to Celtic.
The 32-year-old midfielder has been the subject of firm interest from Parkhead as he hunts his next club. The England cap is weighing up his options after leaving Besiktas last summer and has been training with Arsenal in recent months.
The Premier League leaders are also considering offering the midfielder a short-term deal after picking up a host of injuries in their push for the English title. But the Scottish champions are reportedly closing in on a deal.
Talks between the club and the player have advanced with an agreement 'moving closer' with Celtic attempting to rush the deal through before Thursday's Europa League squad deadline. The deadline to face Stuttgart is Thursday evening – two weeks out from the first leg at Parkhead on February 19.
It appears that the prospect of regular minutes in the Scottish Premiership has tempted the former Liverpool and Arsenal man to move over a crack at the title with Mikel Arteta. Speaking to The Athletic at the end of last year, Oxlade-Chamberlain set out a clear non-negotiable to potential suitors.
He said: "I want to play. I don’t feel old. I’m fit, and I’ve still got that hunger.
“I feel like I can add value on the pitch but also show the right way to train, the right way to act on and off the pitch.
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"I’m in the bracket now where I’ve been lucky enough to play for top clubs, win things and work with top managers. I know a lot more now than I did when I started out.”
Asked asked about the possibility of signing Oxlade-Chamberlain last week, Arteta refused to rule out an offer. He said: “We explore every option.”
O'Neill spoke honestly about talks with Oxlade-Chamberlain in a Sky Sports interview with Chris Sutton on Tuesday.
He said of Oxlade-Chamberlain: "He's working down on his training at Arsenal at this moment.
"Arsenal may even offer him a contract. I was astonished that it hadn't been picked up. He was talking about the difficulties out in Turkey. But someone of that sort of experience would be great.
"It may still happen because he's out of contract."
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