ALEX OXLADE-CHAMERLAIN has signed a new four-year deal at Liverpool.
The midfielder, 26, missed almost the entirety of last season with a serious knee injury.
But his return to fitness has coincided with putting pen to paper on a contract extension, keeping him at Anfield until 2023.
The Ox signed for Liverpool from Arsenal in 2017 and played a key role in their run to the Champions League final in his first season – especially with his performance against Manchester City in the quarter-finals – before suffering knee ligament damage in the semis.
After a couple of set backs in his recovery, the England international featured twice at the end of last season as Liverpool fell just short of winning a maiden Premier League title.
He appeared in the Community Shield at the beginning of August and then started against Chelsea and former-club Southampton last week.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, Oxlade-Chamberlain said: “I’m really, really excited – it’s been in the pipeline for a little while, so it’s nice to finally get it done and just extend my time here, which I am really looking forward to.
I hope that I can do some special things like I did before I got injured and, most of all, be a part of this group of players that go on to hopefully win more things.
“I feel like I missed out on a year, which I obviously did, so it’s really exciting for me to be able to sign. It’s something that I feel is an opportunity to give that year back and make up for lost time – and hopefully put in some good performances to make amends for not being around last year.
“I can promise the supporters that I'll give them absolutely everything moving forward. There might be times where I have bad games and good games and moments where it's not so good, but I'll always work through those moments and give my everything to correct them and keep pushing this team forward.
“I hope that I can do some special things like I did before I got injured and, most of all, be a part of this group of players that go on to hopefully win more things.
“I'm really excited to see what the future holds for us all and I look forward to seeing them every game moving forward.”
Manager Jurgen Klopp must feel as though he has a new signing this summer with Oxlade-Chamberlain available again.
The German said: “When I heard Ox had signed his new contract with us, I am sure my emotions were the same as every Liverpool fan hearing the news tonight – absolutely delighted.
“This is because an absolutely outstanding player and person has shown his belief and commitment to our project here and it’s a deal I think makes sense on both sides.
“Now he is no longer injured, he is fit and he can kick on and show once again just how good he is. But there is still a lot of hard work on that road, there will be times things don’t go the way he’d want, there are times he will need to be patient, times he will be angry in the right way, but I am convinced everything will be fine.”
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