Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ended up where he wanted at Liverpool but the former Arsenal midfielder had to go a long time without making it with the Gunners. One transfer clause might explain why.
Last season's transfer of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal to Liverpool was one of the stranger deals. Mainly because part way through the move, with the Ox clearly wanting to swap the Emirates for Anfield, the two sides played each other.
Oxlade-Chamberlain started as the Reds battered Arsene Wenger's side 4-0, before the England international then made the move just a few days later, joining the team who had just battered him in his last game.
In a strange quirk his debut for Jurgen Klopp's side would come in their next game, a 5-0 hammering from Manchester City, not a great start to his season.
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But 'the Ox' would end up having a good first season at Liverpool, becoming a first team regular, before injury finished his season early and stopped him playing at the World Cup and this season.
It was a bit of a surprise to see his move so instantly pay off because his career at Arsenal had stalled, never cementing a place as a regular in Arsene Wenger's side.
For a player with such quality it was a surprise but Alan Gernon's book, The Transfer Market: The Inside Stories, might explain why his move from Southampton to Arsenal stopped him developing. With Gernon writing:
"Following Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's move to Arsenal in 2011, Gunners fans became increasingly frustrated with the midfielder's lack of playing time.
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"He was predominantly used as a substitute, often around the 71-minute mark.
"After his contract details emerged, it all became clear: Arsenal were obliged to pay Southampton £10,000 every time he played 20 minutes or more."
It's no wonder that the midfielder struggled to make it for the north London side considering every time he played more than 20 minutes Arsene Wenger had to make sure it was totally worth it.
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By the end of his time at the Emirates the former Saint was often being deployed as a wing back whilst at Liverpool he played in his preferred central role last season.
It will be difficult for him to get back into central midfield once he is fit and ready for selection with Klopp adding Naby Keita and Fabinho to the squad last summer.
There's no doubt though that he's in a better place for his career than he was at Arsenal, especially with the restrictive transfer clause.
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