Patrick Roberts has signed again for Celtic on a season-long loan.
The news had been rumoured all day and he was pictured at the Celtic ground in the famous hoops earlier today.
Now the news that all Celtic fans had been hoping for has been confirmed.
The announcement was made on the official Celtic Twitter page on Monday evening.
?7? Roberts Returns! @patrick7roberts rejoins #CelticFC on a season-long loan. Welcome back, Paddy! #PR7
?? https://t.co/kGTkbVTzJi pic.twitter.com/sPZgkgln59
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 28, 2017
The 20-year-old had a massively successful 18-month loan period at the club, scoring 17 goals in 60 appearances and now he’s back for more.
“All the support and love I have been getting has been brilliant,” Roberts told Celtic TV.
“I love it here and to be back is great and I’m thankful to be finally here.
“We had a good end to the season, which obviously helped, and playing for these great fans was also a factor coming back. It’s great to be back and I can’t wait to get going again.
“The manager has been brilliant with me. He obviously wanted me back and so did Celtic. I had a decision to make after pre-season and when that came around Brendan Rodgers was obviously a huge factor in that.
“He is a top manager. I worked under him all of last year and I believe I can develop under him even more and become a better player.”
OPINION
This is absolutely fantastic news for Celtic and a worry for all of their domestic rivals. Patrick Roberts will be a world class player and he’s on his way already. It was rumoured that Manchester City weren’t keen on him returning to Celtic and wanted to try him out in another league, but Roberts himself was adamant. He made it clear that he wanted a return to Celtic and that’s testament to Brendan Rodgers and his style of management. Roberts and Celtic had it all their own way domestically last season but what the club wants is to progress in the Champions League. That’s the ultimate prize for Rodgers and Roberts is the calibre of player who can help make it a reality. Celtic didn’t get the easiest Champions League draw – Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain and Anderlecht will be a huge test, albeit not as hard as last season’s opponents – but they would like to think they’ve got a chance of at least Europa League football after Christmas now.