Overview
- Celtic entered advanced negotiations to sign free agent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with Sky Sports reporting confidence earlier on Thursday and a medical arranged.
- Talks have encountered a snag over deal length, with the player's camp seeking an option to extend beyond a short-term agreement, according to the Daily Record.
- Medical checks were initiated as Celtic tried to beat UEFA’s deadline to register players for the Stuttgart play-off, but late progress has faltered and European inclusion now looks doubtful.
- Oxlade-Chamberlain has been training with Arsenal, where Mikel Arteta praised his character and declined to rule out a short-term offer, leaving Arsenal as a live alternative.
- The 32-year-old last played competitively in May 2025 after an injury-hit spell at Besiktas, and he has stated priorities of regular game time and staying close to family as clubs assess his fitness.