Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Celtic to finalise move for ex-Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder with player due in Glasgow
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a free agent after leaving Besiktas; the 32-year-old has been training with former club Arsenal; Celtic signed five players during the January transfer window; the registration deadline for the Europa League play-off is midnight on Thursday
Thursday 5 February 2026 22:07, UK
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is due to travel to Glasgow on Friday and is expected to finalise a move to Celtic.
Sky Sports News revealed earlier on Thursday that the Scottish champions were in advanced talks over a deal for the former Liverpool and Arsenal midfielder.
Celtic and Oxlade-Chamberlain are close to agreeing a six-month contract, with an option to extend by a further year.
However, it is believed there are still details to sorted out - and he will not be signed in time to beat Thursday night's Europa League squad registration deadline.
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But Celtic are relaxed about the situation, as he was unlikely to be included in their European squad, and there is a willingness from both parties to reach an agreement.
Sky Sports News revealed Celtic's interest in the 32-year-old earlier this week, with manager Martin O'Neill confirming he had held talks with the player in his press conference on Tuesday.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been training with former club Arsenal since mutually terminating his contract with Turkish side Besiktas in August.
He said goodbye to the Arsenal first-team squad at their London Colney base earlier today.
Asked if the 35-times capped England player was someone he liked, the Celtic boss said: "I do. I genuinely do. Yes. He has trained at Arsenal for some time since his time in Turkey.
"In terms of fitness, it's not match fitness, but it's fine. We'll see. And listen, he's got loads of options.
"I think he was very excited about what we were saying. He knows about the football club. He's a big friend of Joe Hart and Joe's spoken to him. Not on our behalf. It was just a conversation with Joe."
Celtic face Dundee in the Scottish Cup on Saturday, after Wednesday's Scottish Premiership game at Aberdeen was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
They take on Stuttgart in the first leg of their Europa League play-off on February 19, with the registration deadline for the tie falling at midnight on Thursday.
Five players joined the Hoops during the January transfer window on loan. Four of those - Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu, Joel Mvuka and Benjamin Arthur - were signed under O'Neill.
