Oxlade-Chamberlain Joins Celtic, Reunites with Family in Glasgow

omidbasir- It was confirmed on Friday that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has signed with Celtic after a period as a free agent following his time with Besiktas. During his hiatus from competitive football, the midfielder trained with his former club, Arsenal, to maintain his fitness, which sparked some speculation about a potential return to the Emirates as a temporary replacement for the injured Mikel Merino.

These rumors have since been dismissed, and according to talkSPORT, Oxlade-Chamberlain will be joined in Glasgow by his fiancée, Perrie Edwards, and their two young children. The family experienced periods of separation during Oxlade-Chamberlain’s time in Turkey, as Perrie divided her time between Istanbul and England to pursue her burgeoning solo career. However, the couple is now set to be reunited full-time in Glasgow as Oxlade-Chamberlain embarks on this new phase of his career, for which he received a heartfelt farewell message from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in 2021, and added a daughter to their family in January. Oxlade-Chamberlain expressed his excitement regarding Perrie’s upcoming relocation: “Yes, she’ll definitely be here. We’ve just had our second baby, so she’s only four weeks old. In a few weeks, I expect they will join me.

“My son will surely want to come up, especially since he enjoys football now. It’s a great opportunity for him.

“I will ensure that she’s up here. She has visited a few times and loves it here, although she often comments on the weather. But they will definitely be joining me soon.”

In an interview with Celtic TV after his arrival at the Scottish Premiership club, Oxlade-Chamberlain expressed his enthusiasm for this new chapter: “It’s been a busy few days, and I’m delighted and truly excited. After speaking with the manager, it felt like the perfect fit for me, and I believe I can contribute to the team.

“Conversations with the manager and Shaun Maloney (interim assistant manager) clarified the expectations of the club, the significance of playing here, and our objectives, which I resonate with deeply. I’ve been fortunate to thrive in similar environments, and I see this as an excellent opportunity for another challenge at a massive club like Celtic. They can help me get back to where I want to be, and, more importantly, I aim to assist the team in achieving our goals.”

Currently, Celtic sits third in the Scottish Premiership, trailing leaders Hearts by six points and arch-rivals Rangers by three, although they have a game in hand on both teams.

Interestingly, there is a pre-existing rivalry involving Edwards and Rangers, dating back to her days with Little Mix. In 2016, her group competed for the Christmas No. 1 spot with their single “Touch” while Rangers fans supported The Dave Clarke Five’s 1964 hit “Glad All Over” to honor striker Joe Garner, for whom they had begun a chant.

Ultimately, neither song reached the coveted Christmas No. 1 position—”Touch” peaked at No. 4, and “Glad All Over” landed at No. 31. However, the rivalry that emerged between Little Mix fans and Rangers supporters on social media may serve Perrie well among Celtic supporters in her new surroundings.