The January transfer window may be closed for business purposes, but Celtic could add additional players to their squad for the second half of the season.
Last summer, Brenden Rodgers moved to sign former Premier League star Kelechi Iheanacho on a free transfer, with the Nigerian striker scoring three goals in the Scottish Premier League and Europa League combined.
Manager Martin O’Neill could repeat that move in one fell swoop to sign free agent central midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has not had a club since leaving Turkish giants Besiktas last summer.
Celtic’s manager has already admitted he wants to strengthen his midfield by signing a former England international who played for Arsenal and Liverpool.
Why Celtic shouldn’t sign Oxlade-Chamberlain
The Hoops should miss out on the chance to bring Oxlade-Chamberlain to Parkhead in the coming days due to his injury history and lack of football this season.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s recent injury history | |
|---|---|
season | Games missed |
24/25 | 4 |
23/24 | 18 |
22/23 | 14 |
21/22 | 0 |
20/21 | 20 |
19/20 | 4 |
Statistics via Transfermarkt | |
His last taste of competitive football was in the Turkish Super Lig last May, meaning he won’t be far away from another year without playing a game for a club.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is no stranger to injuries, particularly after missing 20 games in 2020/21 and 18 in 2023/24. This means it’s a big risk to sign him after nine months of not playing a game, as he may not be ready to come back and play every week right away.
As shown above, the 32-year-old star has enjoyed impressive spells with Arsenal and Liverpool in the past, but this is the first time in almost six years that he has featured in more than 17 league games for Liverpool in a season.
It could be great business if Celtic can get him fit and at his best, but there is another former Premier League talent who could be an even better addition on a free transfer.
Celtic could still sign bigger talent than Oxlade-Chamberlain for £0
The deadline has passed, but Celtic may still have work to do.
A dream that Celtic should sign as a replacement for Oxlade and Chamberlain
There are a number of free agents who could be acquired and added to the team in the coming days, one of which was recommended by experts last month.
Pat Nevin has claimed the Hoops could “consider” signing “high-profile” free agent star Jesse Lingard. Lingard has been away from the club since leaving K League 1 side FC Seoul in early January.
Unlike Oxlade-Chamberlain, the former Manchester United star has been a regular this season until his contract ends at the end of the year and could become a full-time player at Parkhead.
Lingard played 40 games in Seoul’s 2025 season, not missing a single game due to injury, and played 34 games in K League 1 and 6 games in AFC Champions League Elite.
The 33-year-old scored in December’s AFC Champions League Elite match against Melbourne City, his last appearance for the South Korean team.
Lingard flourished in South Korea’s top league in 2025, appearing in 34 games, creating a total of 24 goals and “big chances”, and deservedly recorded far more assists than his final tally.
2025 K League 1 | lingard |
|---|---|
Appearance | 34 |
the goal | 10 |
missed a big opportunity | 4 |
A big opportunity has arisen | 14 |
Key paths per game | 2.5 |
assist | 4 |
Statistics by Sofascore | |
This shows that he is performing consistently at a decent level, given that Celtic are in a league that previously brought in Yang Hyun-joong and Oh Hyun-gyu, but Oxlade-Chamberlain has not had that.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has not played a single game this season and has played 18 Super Lig games for Besiktas in 2024/25, scoring one goal, creating zero ‘big chances’ and providing zero assists.
These statistics suggest that Lingard is much more likely to arrive at Celtic and make an immediate impact on the pitch with his ability to score goals and create chances for his teammates as a center or attacking midfielder.
The former Manchester United starlet has not been injured since the 2023-24 season and has had a better appearance record of late, which is why O’Neill should pursue a £0 move in place of Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Celtic have already signed another Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Parkhead.
Could Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain be Celtic’s last-minute free transfer signing?
