Former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is reportedly on the verge of completing a transfer to Scottish champions Celtic, bringing an end to his period as a free agent.
Birmingham City's Summer Decision
Birmingham City were strongly linked with a move for Oxlade-Chamberlain towards the end of the summer transfer window when he became available following his departure from Turkish club Besiktas. However, the Championship side ultimately decided to pursue other options to strengthen their midfield department.
The Blues chose to invest their resources elsewhere, bringing in Colombian defensive midfielder Jhon Solis from Girona instead of pursuing the experienced English international. A January move for Oxlade-Chamberlain was never seriously considered by the Birmingham hierarchy as they focused on their existing squad development.
Celtic Move Imminent
According to Sky Sports reports, Oxlade-Chamberlain is expected to travel to Glasgow imminently to finalise a deal with Celtic that will see him join the club until the end of the current season. The 32-year-old midfielder has been training with his former club Arsenal to maintain fitness while seeking a new club.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has not played competitive football since May 2025, making his potential move to Celtic particularly significant as he looks to revive his career at a club competing for major honours. Celtic are currently engaged in a tight three-way battle for the Scottish Premiership title alongside Hearts and arch-rivals Rangers.
Managerial Changes at Celtic
The transfer comes at a time of managerial transition for Celtic, with Martin O'Neill having resumed control on an interim basis following the departure of Wilfried Nancy. This change in leadership may have influenced the club's decision to bring in experienced players like Oxlade-Chamberlain to bolster their title challenge.
For Birmingham City, their summer decision to look beyond Oxlade-Chamberlain reflects their strategic approach to squad building, focusing on younger talent and different profiles to complement their existing midfield options. The club's recruitment team identified Solis as a better fit for their requirements at that particular time.
As Oxlade-Chamberlain prepares to potentially reignite his career in Scottish football, Birmingham City continue their Championship campaign with the midfield options they carefully selected during the previous transfer windows, demonstrating the different paths clubs can take in their recruitment strategies.
