Kidderminster Harriers have confirmed the signing of Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain via their Twitter.
Chamberlain, the younger brother of former Arsenal and Liverpool player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, progressed through the youth ranks at League One side Portsmouth, before signing a two-year scholarship with Pompey in 2014.
The 25-year-old signs a two-year deal, which will see him at Aggborough until 2025. The defender played his football with King’s Lynn Town last season, after a season with Aldershot Town, featuring against Harriers three times, twice in the regular season and once in the playoff semi-finals which saw Kidderminster come out on top.
He has not enjoyed the same success as his brother, who has been playing in the top flight since a young age, joining Arsenal from Southampton’s youth ranks, before he departed the Gunners for Liverpool. After not making an appearance for Portsmouth and numerous loan spells, Chamberlain departed the South Coast permanently, joining League Two side Notts County in 2018. That would be the highest level that he would play his football and he would only make three appearances for the club, before leaving for Gosport Borough.
His lengthy spells within the team would only come in recent years, making 39 appearances for Aldershot Town and 31 appearances with King’s Lynn Town. He has versatility he can offer a team, with appearances coming both in defence and in midfield throughout his playing career. His first game in a professional league came with Notts County, as the club lost 5-1 to Exeter City, where he gave a penalty away for handball. His second did not come with much more fortune, as he was sent off after being subbed on at half-time against Oldham Athletic.
The signing of Chamberlain continues the club’s spell of strengthening ahead of their new season, which they will play in the National League, after earning promotion last year. The club yesterday added an experienced striker to their ranks, who brings a wealth of experience in the National League to the club, as they confirmed the signing of Gerry McDonagh. The club have made Oxlade-Chamberlain their second signing in two days, as they continue to bolster the numbers at Aggborough ahead of pre-season returning this Friday.
Writer’s View
Chamberlain is still at a young age at 25 years old, but you would expect him to be approaching his prime at such an age. Playing at a National League level, he will not be expected to emulate his family’s reputation of talent, but Harriers will surely be hoping he can bring his version of that to the club. Football is in his family, with his brother enjoying a successful career, as well as his brother and uncle playing at a professional level.
