Whether he was a slow burner or a late developer it has turned out all right on the night for Ryan Christie.
As recently as three weeks ago it looked like long odds against him getting a new Celtic deal but after a stunning burst of form he has grown into the jersey and earned a new contract.
Christie joined Celtic at the end of the 2015 summer transfer window and hardly found himself in celebrated company.
Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong had made a big impact in the January transfer window but sadly they were to be the exceptions of the Deila reign.
With only one exception the others in the class of 2015 proved to be disastrous, two of them had the final year of their contracts paid off while Scott Allan remains in the shadows at Celtic Park without a first team or reserve appearance so far this season.
After a very tricky start to his Celtic career Deila almost turned things round. Steven McLean denied him a treble while a spirited performance at home to Inter Milan and the arrival of the Dundee United duo hinted at better times ahead.
Alas it wasn’t to be for Ronny, his second season was a painful one but it did pave the way for the arrival of Brendan Rodgers with the Irishman reviving the whole club, filling the stands and cleaning up with silverware.
NADIR CIFTCI
Was brought in after a strong season at Dundee United but there were major question marks over his temperament which resulted in a six match domestic suspension.
It just never kicked off for Ciftci, he never looked comfortable despite having a reasonable scoring return.
Halfway through his first season he was sent out on loan to Turkey, further loan deals followed to clubs including Plymouth and Motherwell before he took a pay off in return for the final year of his contract. He is back among the goals in the Turkish second tier with Genclerbirligi
RYAN CHRISTIE
Was instantly loaned back to Inverness Caley Thistle, scored a match winning goal against Aberdeen then suffered a knee injury which cut short his loan spell.
He did score a goal in Deila’s last match in charge, a 7-0 win over Motherwell but his impact was minimal.
Two loans spells at Aberdeen earned him a Scotland call up but it’s only in the last fortnight that he has looked like a Celtic player with today’s news the reward for patience and perseverance.
DEDRYCK BOYATA
A late bloomer, his signing was viewed as a replacement for Jason Denayer but in his first season he looked nervous and timid with his season ending in the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to another team from Glasgow.
Brendan Rodgers left him out of the side for six months but didn’t discard the former Manchester City defender.
After the winter break in Dubai he was transformed into the first choice central defender, earning the trust of his manager and going on to make three appearances at the World Cup Finals for Belgium.
His Celtic career looks close to ending with the only question being whether it will be in January or June.
LOGAN BAILLY
Was probably signed on the recommendation of John Collins who had spent a brief period managing in Belgium.
He arrived with a decent pedigree, including a spell at Borussia Monchengladbach and was only required as back up taking over from Lucas Zaluska.
The Glasgow nightlife seemed to be very agreeable, after two seasons at Celtic he left with a year to go on his deal, joining Belgian side Royal Mouscron but is now turning his energy to politics.
SAIDY JANKO
It looked Celtic had won a watch with a Swiss internationalist signing directly from Manchester United.
With Adam Matthews sold and a profit secured it looked like good business all round but after injury took him out of contention for a big chunk of his first season.
Brendan Rodgers gave him his chance but that ended after a disastrous display away to Hapoel Beer Sheva he was on his way to Barnsley on loan.
After leaving for St Etienne in 2017 he was involved in a bizarre transfer triangle this summer that saw him join Porto and quickly get loaned out to Nottingham Forest where he has made six appearances.
SCOTT ALLAN
His autobiography should be revealing.
After Hibs constantly rejected well leaked bids from another Glasgow club he joined Celtic in a move that came as a shock to most.
Deila barely gave him a look in, Brendan Rodgers was impressed but sent him out on loan to Rotherham for the Invincible season.
After further loans at Dundee and Hibs he is now running down the final year of his Celtic deal.