The youngster has continued to be linked with a return to Celtic for years including this transfer window but that saga has come to an end for the time being.
Football is a funny game, one day you are on top of the world, the next at rock bottom. It was not too long ago that Patrick Roberts was seen as a potential world beater. His loan spells at Celtic were extremely impressive for the most part. Since then though things have gone downhill because of a combination of injuries and bad choice of clubs.
One could argue that things had started to go wrong already during his third loan spell at Celtic. A hamstring injury meant that he was out for most of the season. Even then, he scored a solitary goal and provided 5 assists in just 18 appearances that season.
Those numbers were nothing compared to his earlier to seasons though. In his debut campaign for the Hoops, Roberts scored 6 goals and provided 2 assists in just 13 appearances. The following season can only be described as exceptional for a teenager as he scored 11 goals and provided 19 assists in 47 appearances.
He has failed to deliver on that early promise though as his subsequent loan spells at Girona and Norwich City can only be described as failures. A lot of that was down to the style of football that the two teams play as well though as a tricky winger like Roberts will always struggle in a defensive unit.
Rumours have always persisted about him returning to Celtic one day though and understandably so. He showed his best at the club and many fans believe that he can rediscover that form again if given the chance. But for another season, those hopes have been extinguished as Roberts has rejoined Middlesbrough on loan.
It is at the Championship club that he appeared to be getting into his own once again, scoring 1 goal and providing 3 assists in 10 appearances. And hopefully he can build on that form this season around as well.
As things it is difficult to see the winger at Celtic. But things can change very quickly in football. He might just rediscover his best form at Middlesbrough and we know that the Hoops are in need of another winger. Never say never.