Celtic have signed former Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a free transfer.

The 32-year-old has been without a club since having his contract terminated at Turkish side Besiktas in August last year and has been maintaining his fitness by training at former club Arsenal.

Reports suggested Mikel Arteta was weighing up a short-term deal for Oxlade-Chamberlain amid an injury crisis, but no offer materialised.

Oxlade-Chamberlain told club channels: “Speaking with the manager, it just felt like the perfect fit for me and I feel like I can come in and help out the lads.

“Just talking to the manager, and Shaun Maloney as well, who told the expectations on the club and what it means to play here, what our targets are that he’s going to push me. 

“It’s exactly what I need. I need another challenge and lucky enough at a massive club like this. And they can help me get back to where I need to get to and, more importantly, I need to help the team achieve the goals that we want to do.”

The ex-England international’s career began at Southampton before moving to Arsenal a week before his 18th birthday. He spent six years at the Emirates, where he won three F.A Cups, and then switched to Liverpool.

He enjoyed the most successful period of his career at Anfield, winning the Premier League in 2020, and the Champions League in 2019, where he would stay until 2023 before moving to Besiktas.

Amassing 35 caps for England, two of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s seven goals for his country have came against Scotland, including the opener in a 3-1 victory in a 2014 friendly at Celtic Park. 

Celtic’s next game is at home against Livingston, which could see Martin O’Neill hand his newest recruit a debut either in the starting eleven or from the bench.