Prepare for a football and pop music mashup! Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is officially heading to Celtic, and his fiancée, pop superstar Perrie Edwards of Little Mix, is set to join him in Glasgow. This move isn't just about a new football chapter; it also brings to light a surprisingly quirky and rather bizarre rivalry Perrie and her band once had with Rangers fans!
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has recently confirmed that his fiancée, the incredibly talented Perrie Edwards, will be making the move to Glasgow with him following his signing for Celtic Football Club. This exciting development comes after Oxlade-Chamberlain's recent transfer as a free agent, having concluded his two-year tenure with Turkish club Besiktas over the summer. To maintain his peak physical condition before officially joining 'The Hoops,' he had been training with his former team, Arsenal, a familiar ground for the seasoned player who has also represented Liverpool.
For Oxlade-Chamberlain, this move represents a significant step closer to home, especially considering his family. The couple is already proud parents to two young children: a son born in 2021 and a daughter who arrived just four weeks ago, in January. When questioned by journalists about Perrie's relocation, Oxlade-Chamberlain shared, "Yeah, she'll be up here for sure. We've just had our second baby, so she's only four weeks old. So I think a few more weeks and they'll probably head up here for sure." He also expressed enthusiasm for his son's potential involvement, noting, "My son will definitely want to come up and he loves his football now, so it's good for him to come up." He humorously added, "I'll make sure she's up here. She's been up here a few times, she loves it up here. She just complains about the weather and that's it. But they'll definitely be up here at some point."
But here's where it gets controversial... The idea of a pop star having a football rivalry might sound like something from a soap opera, but the connection between Perrie Edwards, Little Mix, and Rangers fans is a real, albeit peculiar, piece of music and football history. This unusual feud wasn't about on-pitch battles, but rather a fierce, and frankly, quite odd, competition for the Christmas number one spot in 2016.
Rangers supporters had rallied behind a campaign to get The Dave Clarke Five's 1964 hit 'Glad All Over' to the top of the charts. Their intention was to honor then-striker Joe Garner, even going so far as to creatively alter the song's lyrics. In a direct clash, Little Mix was vying for the coveted Christmas number one with their single 'Touch'. The situation escalated in a way that was, as the original report states, "bizarrely getting out of hand."
And this is the part most people miss... Despite the passionate efforts from both sides, neither 'Glad All Over' nor 'Touch' managed to clinch the Christmas number one title. That honor went to Clean Bandit with their chart-topping hit 'Rockabye.' Little Mix's 'Touch' ultimately charted at a respectable number four, while 'Glad All Over' landed at a much lower 31st position.
Regarding his move to Celtic, Oxlade-Chamberlain shared his excitement with Celtic TV, stating, "It's been a busy few days but I'm delighted and really excited." He elaborated on his decision, explaining, "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." He was particularly impressed by the conversations with the manager and interim assistant manager, Shaun Maloney, who "told the expectations on the club and what it means to play here, what our targets are and that he's going to push me." Oxlade-Chamberlain feels this aligns perfectly with his own ambitions: "That's all the stuff I identify with and that's the environment I've always been in and been lucky enough to be in. 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 we want to do."
What are your thoughts on this unique blend of celebrity and sport? Do you think Perrie Edwards will embrace the Glasgow weather? And what do you make of that rather peculiar Little Mix vs. Rangers chart battle? Let us know in the comments below!
