Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was once tipped for the very top but his career has taken a turn for the worse in recent years.
The 31-year-old rose through the ranks of youth academy before penning a deal with in 2011, enjoying a six-year stint with the Gunners, winning three FA Cups and three Community Shields a piece. He went on to find further success with under , lifting a trophy and a across his six years spent at Anfield, as well as representing England on the stage 35 times between 2012 and 2019.
And while his career on the pitch has dimmed in recent years, making the move to outfit last year - where he has made a total of 30 appearances - his life away from the world of football has had its own highly exciting moments.
But what does the life of look like behind all of the Premier League glory, trophies and accolades? Here, breaks it down...
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A footballing plightOxlade-Chamberlain caused footballing oppositions a real headache on his day, to say the least. The centre-midfielder scored 10 goals and bagged nine assists in his maiden season as a professional with before Arsenal came a-knocking in 2011.
At the Emirates, the Englishman enjoyed an illustrious six-year stint, bagging 20 goals and 28 assists for the Gunners, making 198 appearances overall and sharply becoming one of the first names Wenger selected on his team sheet. However, in 2017, Oxlade-Chamberlain stunned footballing fans worldwide by making a shock move to Liverpool for a reported £35million.
The baller contributed 18 goals and 15 assists over the next six years, helping Klopp achieve Premier League glory for the Reds for the first time in history, alongside the likes of , , and to name but a few. However, Oxlade-Chamberlain found himself sliding down the pecking order towards the latter stages of his career at Anfield, partially due to an ACL tear which sidelined him for 316 days - missing 58 games overall for his side.
After making just nine Premier League appearances in the 2022/23 season, and with his future at Liverpool in doubt, Oxlade-Chamberlain made the move to Besiktas on a free transfer last year. However, the midfield maestro once again struggled with injury in the Super Lig, tearing his thigh muscle last December and missing 18 games for the club.
Eight games into the 2024/25 season, and Oxlade-Chamberlain is yet to make an appearance for Besiktas - only appearing on the bench in the side's clash with Kayserispor last month as an unused substitute. With two years left on his contract, it looks as though there is no plan to incorporate Oxlade-Chamberlain into the current Besiktas set-up. A return to England was mooted in the summer with Premier League clubs showing interest but nothing materialised.
A relationship with Perrie EdwardsOxlade-Chamberlain has been in a relationship with former singer since 2016, having initially met through exclusive dating app, Raya. The two confirmed their relationship through in February 2017, with Edwards posting a snap of the two kissing in front of the Eiffel Tower, captioned: "Him."
In May 2021, Perrie confirmed that she was pregnant with Oxlade-Chamberlain's child - once again taking to the socials to share a black and white photo of her baby bump, captioned: "So happy to be on this wild journey with my soulmate. Me + Him = You. We can’t wait to meet you baby Ox!"
The two welcomed their firstborn in August 2021, a boy who they called Axel Oxlade-Chamberlain. The two became engaged in June 2022, with Oxlade-Chamberlain popping the big question on a beach with a spectacular sunset view. Edwards took to social media to share: "Last night the love of my life got down on one knee and I said… YES!" sharing a sweet photo carousel of the engagement as well as a humongous diamond ring. The two are yet to set a wedding date.
A family home in Cheshire where Alex doesn't liveDespite being in a relationship for the best part of eight years now, Edwards this year admitted that she has never lived with her fiancee. Speaking on the Jonathan Ross Show back in April, the 31-year-old said: "I can't lie, it is hard. When he was playing for Liverpool and based in Manchester, it was so easy to do the back and forth but Turkey is a little bit further and he doesn't get a lot of time off.
"I'm trying to launch a solo career whilst having a two-year-old so it is a lot to juggle but we make it work for the ones we love don't we? We've never lived together anyway - the whole eight years we've been in a relationship, we've never actually lived together."
It is reported that Edwards and her son, Axel, share a stunning £3.5million mansion in Cheshire, complete with a bustling grand staircase, velvet curtains and an incredibly neutral theme. Earlier this month, Edwards also shared how her long-distance relationship with Oxlade-Chamberlain affects family life, explaining that he has to train on day instead of spending it with his fiancee and their child.
She added: "And they train on Christmas day!," with Jason King jokingly adding: "They get paid enough for it! Shut up!" Edwards then explained: "That’s what everyone says and I’m like ‘you tell that to my two-year-old who doesn’t know what’s going on! Where’s Daddy?"
Edwards continued: "So, he’s three now and he knows, so now he’s like ‘I miss Dada’. The second he wakes up he’s like 'I miss my Dada' and I’m like 'Me too, we’ll go to Turkey soon'. He’s goes 'Yeah lets go on the aeroplane and see Dada'. And every aeroplane in the sky he’s like “Dada! Dada’s on there!” It’s so cute and it just melts my heart."
Oxlade-Chamberlain's huge salary and net worthLast August, it was reported that Oxlade-Chamberlain would be paid 2.5million euros (£2m) per season as well as having the ability to earn up to 10,000 euros (£8,300) per match dependent on minutes played - albeit the bonus system is likely to have a long-standing effect on his earnings considering his predicament at present.
Sources reported earlier this year that Oxlade-Chamberlain has an overall net worth of around £13.1million thanks to his playing days, as well as past endorsements with the likes of BT Sports, Nike and Nivea to name but a few. Edwards, on the other hand, is reported to have a net worth of around £15million thanks to her work with Little Mix and her solo music career, as well as her brand, Disora.
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