Arsenal invite another free agent to train ahead of Champions League clash

November 4, 2025 Oliver Obel

The 32-year-old is currently training with Arsenal while exploring his next move after leaving Turkish side Beşiktaş over the summer. It’s been several months since his last competitive match in May 2024, and his focus now is simple — regain full fitness and return to English football.

According to Sky Sports reporter James Savundra, Oxlade-Chamberlain will spend most of his time working with Arsenal’s U21 squad to stay sharp. He knows these surroundings well. The midfielder came through Arsenal’s academy and made 198 appearances between 2011 and 2017 before completing a £35 million move to Liverpool.

From promise to persistence

At Liverpool, Oxlade-Chamberlain made an immediate impact under Jürgen Klopp. But his rise was cruelly interrupted by a serious ACL injury during the 2018 Champions League semi-final against Roma.

He was sidelined for more than a year. Although he fought his way back, repeated injuries kept him from fully rediscovering his rhythm. In his final season at Anfield, he managed just 13 appearances before being released in 2023.

After two seasons in Turkey, this new spell at Arsenal offers a chance to reset — and maybe to remind clubs of what he can still bring. He’s been here before. For him, it’s almost like coming home.

A continuing Arsenal tradition

This isn’t the first time Arsenal have welcomed back a free agent. Earlier this year, former academy striker Tyreece John-Jules trained at the Sobha Realty Training Centre after leaving Crawley Town.
According to Arsenal.com, he later joined Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock following his brief stint in north London.

It’s part of a quiet but enduring Arsenal tradition — helping past players stay fit and connected to the club. It’s a practice often praised within the football community for keeping the club’s sense of continuity alive.

Future still open

A permanent Arsenal return seems unlikely, but several clubs are said to be keeping an eye on the situation. Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke has reported that Leeds United and Birmingham City are among the sides showing interest in the experienced midfielder.

Free agents are permitted to sign outside the transfer window, provided their new club has an available registration slot from the September squad list. That means a move could come at any time — if the right offer arrives.

For now, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s focus is on fitness. And perhaps, on writing one last chapter in English football. It’s a story that feels unfinished.

Sources: Sky Sports, Football Insider, Arsenal.com