At the age of seven, Oxlade-Chamberlain attended the Southampton Academy. At 16 years and 199 days, he made his first-team debut for Southampton on 2 March 2010, coming off the bench in a 5-0 victory over Huddersfield Town, and became the club's second-youngest ever appearance maker, trailing only Theo Walcott. On 9 August 2010, at 17 years and 194 days, he scored his first goal for the club against West Bromwich Albion, giving Southampton a 1-0 lead before being replaced by Gareth Southgate after an injury scare. He ended up playing 81 minutes before being substituted out.
Oxlade-Chamberlain left Southampton at the end of the season. He had been linked with moves to Liverpool and Manchester United but eventually signed a new contract with Southampton. In May 2011, he was awarded the Young Player of the Year award by the Southampton F.C. supporters' club.
He made his Premier League debut on 8 August 2011, coming on as a substitute in a 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers. On 23 September 2011, he scored his first goal in the Premier League, opening the scoring in a 1-0 home win over Newcastle United. The following week, he scored again, this time in a 4-1 away win over Aston Villa.
After making 22 appearances in all competitions, Oxlade-Chamberlain suffered an ankle injury that kept him out for nearly a year.
I've been alive for 16 years and 143 days. In January 2018, Arsenal striker Theo Walcott agreed to terms with Everton for a fee of PS20 million. The 28-year-old earned his mark at Southampton, when he became the club's youngest-ever first-team player when he made his debut against Wolves at the age of 16 years and 143 days. He later played a key role in helping the Saints win the 2013 Premier League title.
After impressing during his one season with Southampton, where he scored 15 goals in all competitions, including 13 in the Premier League, Arsenal signed him up. He moved to St. Mary's Stadium in July 2013. During his time at the south coast club, he not only helped them win trophies but also earned himself a place in the England squad. In May 2015, after scoring 22 goals in all competitions for Southampton, he moved to Emirates Stadium.
Theo Walcott made his Gunners' debut on August 4, 2005, in a 5-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in the Community Shield. At the age of 19 years and 311 days, he became the youngest ever player to appear in the match. Two months later, he scored his first goal for the Club against Stockport County in the FA Cup. Five more strikes followed that season - four in the League and one in the Cup - and in April 2006, he won the Young Player of the Year Award at the London Football Awards.
Bale made his Southampton debut on April 17, 2006, at the age of 16 years and 275 days, becoming the club's second youngest player ever (behind Theo Walcott, who was 132 days younger) in the Saints' 2-0 victory over Millwall. Bale scored his first league goal, a free kick, on August 6 to tie the game at 1-1 against Derby County. He then won the match with an injury time penalty as Southampton defeated Derby 4-1 at Pride Park.
Bale left Southampton after three seasons during which he scored 32 goals in 99 appearances. He joined Welsh side Tottenham Hotspur for £5 million ($8.5 million) in January 2009.
Bale signed a new five-year contract with Spurs in September 2012. His current deal will see him remain at White Hart Lane until 2017. The agreement means that Bale will be a Spur until at least 2022, just two months before his 26th birthday.
Besides football, what other career options were there for Bale? Before making his move to London, he had been training with Southampton's professional team after leaving school at 15. However, because of his young age, they could only offer him a part-time role.
Bale has said that he wants to be a sports journalist when he leaves football, but this is not likely to happen until later in his career after it has been established which direction his career is going.
He stood out among his classmates and accepted a position at Leicester City's football academy at the age of nine. After progressing through their development system, he made his first-team debut on March 8, 1995, at the age of 17, while still a first-year trainee, in a Premier League match against Queens Park Rangers. The following season, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 win over Barnsley on August 26.
Emile Heskey earned a place in England under-21 squad in 1996 and played three matches before being called up to the full national team. He won his first cap on February 2, 1997, in a friendly match against South Africa. Five months later, he scored his first international goal in a 2–0 victory over Sweden. At the end of that year, he ended his involvement with the English national team after playing six games but without scoring any goals.
In 1998, Emile Heskey signed for Liverpool but was loaned back to Leicester City until the end of the season. In 1999, he moved to Aston Villa for £750,000 and helped them gain promotion to the Premier League that season. In 2001, he moved back to Liverpool for £8 million and became one of the club's main strikers alongside Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen. However, he only made 16 appearances and scored two goals before moving to Marseille in January 2003.
Two years later, he began his professional career at Leeds United, when he became the Premier League's youngest player at the age of 16 years and 129 days, coming off the bench in a 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in August 2003. He went on to make 39 appearances for the club, scoring four goals.
Lennon was offered a contract by Leeds United after making an impact off the bench during his first season with the club. However, he declined the offer, preferring instead to look for a move away from Elland Road.
He eventually signed a three-year deal with Chelsea, joining the club at the age of 18. He made his debut against Port Vale in the League Cup, coming on as a late substitute for Michael Essien.
In April 2005, Lennon scored his first goal for Chelsea, equalizing against Liverpool at Anfield. The match ended 1-1. He also provided two assists that game.
Three months later, he scored his second goal for the club, opening the scoring in a 3-0 win over Northampton Town in the FA Cup. He also provided an assist that day.
However, just like with his previous club, Lennon wasn't able to hold down a regular place in manager José Mourinho's starting lineup and was allowed to leave Stamford Bridge on loan.
Oxlade-Chamberlain suffered a knee injury at a pre-season session in Austria on August 21. Oxlade-Chamberlain scored his first goal of the season in a 3-0 away win over Burnley on May 19. International Youth Career Teams coach Andy Hessenthaler said after the match that Oxlade-Chamberlain had sustained a "little bit of an issue with his knee". He was replaced by James Ward-Prowse in the 79th minute.
The England youth international returned to training three weeks later and played 90 minutes in a 4-1 friendly loss to Germany on June 8.
He missed the next two games due to a groin problem but returned for the final game of the pre-season schedule against Schalke 04. Oxlade-Chamberlain came on as a 71st-minute substitute for Jordan Henderson and helped set up Adam Lallana's second-half goal which ensured Liverpool won 3-1. The 18-year-old midfielder signed his first professional contract on July 31.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been selected for England U20s' upcoming fixtures. The team will play Spain on September 6 in León and then face Germany on September 10 in Munich. Both matches will be played as part of the UEFA U20 Championships.
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