Influential midfielder agrees new 12-month contract after helping Celtic clinch a domestic double last season
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has revealed how an “incredible” debut season with Celtic convinced him to stay at Parkhead for the new season after signing a one-year deal extension with the Scottish champions.
The 32-year-old former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder joined the Hoops as a free agent in February a few months after leaving Turkish side Besiktas. He penned a short-term contract until the end of the season, and scored twice in nine appearances for Martin O’Neill’s double-winning side.
Oxlade-Chamberlain scored a vital last-gasp winner against Livingston just a few days after arriving in Glashow’s east end and contributed to the club’s fifth successive Premiership title win, courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Hearts on the final day before playing his part in the Scottish Cup final triumph over Dunfermline Athletic a week later.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says his Celtic teammates have been giving him a club history lesson in recent months. Cr: SNS Group.placeholder image
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says his Celtic teammates have been giving him a club history lesson in recent months. Cr: SNS Group. | SNS Group
Celtic did, however, let their clause window to extend the 35-times capped England international contract expire last week, raising concern that his time at he club could be coming to an early end.
Those suspicions were heightened further in recent days when he was spotted training alone in Portugal to maintain his fitness, while the majority of his Celtic team mates were reporting back for pre-season training at Lennoxtown.
Sky Sports reported that Oxlade-Chamberlain was weighing up several options across Europe, but he had been convinced to remain in Scotland for another 12 months after holding talks with veteran boss Martin O’Neill.
Oxlade-Chamberlain ‘really excited to be back’ at Celtic
He will link back up with O’Neill’s squad in time at a warm weather training camp in Portugal next week following the club’s first pre-season friendly against Shelbourne in Ireland on Tuesday as preparations for the upcoming campaign ramp up.
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Speaking to the club’s website about his decision to extend his time in Glasgow into a second season, Oxlade-Chamberlain said: “I’m delighted to be staying at Celtic for another year. It was an incredible time last season and to be part of that success in winning the league and Scottish Cup was so special.
“I’m really excited to be back and I’m looking forward to meeting up with the boys and getting to work ahead of what will hopefully be another successful season.”
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