If you’ve ever wondered what happened to former West Ham enigma Reece Oxford, well now you know after he was seen wearing an Arsenal shirt at the club’s Premier League title parade.
With the emergence of generational talent Declan Rice at West Ham – and subsequent mega money sale to Arsenal, it is easy to forget about the homegrown Hammer deemed every bit as good, Reece Oxford.
Like Rice, Oxford was actually a centre-back by trade, but – like Rice – actually made his debut for the Hammers in central midfield.
Ex-West Ham star Oxford seen wearing Arsenal shirt at parade
Ironically Oxford made his West Ham bow aged just 16 in an unforgettable 2-0 win at Arsenal, making history in the process.
Now 11 years on it turned out to be the highlight of Oxford’s entire football career after a dismal spell in Germany after falling out of favour at West Ham.
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And it seems Oxford would have liked to follow in the footsteps of Rice by joining Arsenal too.
Because the former West Ham star was seen wearing an Arsenal shirt at the club’s title parade on Sunday.
A picture has emerged on social media showing Oxford all smiles as he sports the Gunners away shirt while celebrating in north London.
From winning man of the match on his debut at 16 against Arsenal to retiring young and attending the Gunners’ title celebrations, Oxford’s career should act as a tale of caution for young rising stars.
Slaven Bilic was the manager who gave both Oxford and Rice their football debuts with West Ham.
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And in interviews since, Bilic has said Oxford was just as good as Rice talent-wise.
Celebrating Arsenal’s Premier League title triumph is as good as it has got for Oxford when it comes to football since his early West Ham days.
Oxford joined German outfit Augsburg after leaving West Ham, where his attitude and application were questioned following his meteoric breakthrough from the Academy.
He was a regular for Augsburg until 2022 but a series of issues from injury to illness meant he did not play a competitive game in THREE years.
Oxford was then released by Augsburg last year aged just 26 and has not had a club since.
What Oxford does next remains to be seen but it seems his professional football career is over before it ever really got going.
His is a sad tale of a highly-rated young talent who looked destined for a longer career than most at the top level with club and country given he made his debut at 16.
Oxford may have lived the dream, albeit briefly, but now the closest he can get to Premier League football is joining Arsenal’s celebrations.
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