Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has said his goodbyes to Arsenal’s first-team squad ahead of agreeing a deal to join Celtic, according to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph.
According to GIVEMESPORT senior reporter Fabrizio Romano, the 32-year-old is set to complete his free transfer to Celtic Park on Friday after agreeing a six-month contract with the Glasgow giants.
Despite adding five new faces to his squad during the January transfer window, O’Neill was keen to bring in more quality and depth to his squad for the season run-in, with Oxlade-Chamberlain set to be a big-name arrival after Monday’s deadline passed.
Celtic remain firmly in the Scottish Premiership title race alongside leaders Hearts and local rivals Rangers, while they also face a crucial two-legged Europa League playoff tie against Stuttgart this month.
Oxlade-Chamberlain Has Been Training With Arsenal
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been without a club since leaving Turkish giants Besiktas by mutual consent in August, with his former club Arsenal allowing him to train with them in recent weeks.
O’Neill confirmed that the 32-year-old was ‘very excited’ by what he heard in talks with the Celtic manager, but the Bhoys boss believed the midfielder was more inclined to look for a club closer to London, where he has been training to keep fit.
However, according to Joseph, posting on X, the former Liverpool star has now said his goodbyes at the Gunners’ London Colney training ground as he looks set to complete a switch north of the border.
According to Romano, Oxlade-Chamberlain will be in Glasgow on Friday to sign a contract until the end of the season, with an option to extend it further.
Oxlade-Chamberlain Will Solve Big O’Neill Headaches
Celtic’s reported interest in former AC Milan and Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko shows that the centre of the park was one area O’Neill wanted to bolster.
The Hoops head honcho has picked the Englishman over the Frenchman, and it is easy to see why.
While Oxlade-Chamberlain can play as a central midfielder, like Bakayoko, he also offers O’Neill a lot more versatility in a busy end-of-season run of matches.
The 32-year-old is also able to play out wide, which still looks to be a weak area despite the arrival of Joel Mvuka from Lorient, with the young Norwegian looking far from the finished article.
Meanwhile, Oxlade-Chamberlain even played as a full-back on occasions for Besiktas, which could be a vital weapon for O’Neill to use in the coming months.
Related
‘Outstanding’ Celtic Star Could Push to Leave After January Transfer Blocked
One ‘outstanding’ Celtic star could push for an exit away from the club this summer after he saw a January transfer blocked.