Former Arsenal Record Holder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Returns to Train with the Gunners
A familiar face has returned to London Colney. Former Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is back training with the Gunners as he looks to stay fit and find his next club.
The 31-year-old, currently a free agent, has been welcomed back by Arsenal while he continues his search for a new team. The timing coincides with Mikel Arteta’s squad preparing for their crucial Champions League clash against Slavia Prague, where Arsenal are chasing top spot in the league phase after three consecutive wins.
According to The Athletic, Oxlade-Chamberlain is training with Arsenal’s academy rather than the senior team as he maintains his fitness. This comes just months after his contract with Turkish side Besiktas was terminated in late August, reportedly netting him a €1.75 million settlement.
The Englishman joined Besiktas from Liverpool in 2023 but managed only 20 appearances during his brief spell in Turkey. Injuries, unfortunately, have been a recurring theme throughout his career, something that limited his impact at Liverpool as well, where he made 146 appearances over six years.
Despite his setbacks, Oxlade-Chamberlain remains fondly remembered at Arsenal, where he first burst onto the scene as a teenage prodigy. He joined the Gunners from Southampton in 2011, and during his six-year stay, he made 198 appearances and scored 20 goals, often dazzling fans with his pace, versatility, and ability to shine on the big stage.
His €38 million move to Liverpool in 2017 remains Arsenal’s record sale, according to Transfermarkt, a testament to how highly he was valued at the time. It’s also not the first time a former Gunner has returned to train under Arteta.
Fans will remember Jack Wilshere’s comeback during the 2021–22 season, and, of course, Wilshere has since gone on to become Luton Town’s manager.
As Oxlade-Chamberlain continues to work on his fitness and explore his next chapter, his return to familiar surroundings has sparked nostalgia among Arsenal supporters.
After all, he still holds the record for the highest transfer fee Arsenal have ever received, a fact that might make Gooners pause and reflect on how the club’s transfer dealings have evolved in recent years.
Could this latest reunion be just a brief stop for Oxlade-Chamberlain, or might it open another door in his football journey? Either way, it’s a heartwarming sight for fans to see one of their own back where it all began.
