It feels like it’s been a lot longer, but today marks two years since we tied down the exciting Ryan Christie on a new three-year contract.
Talks and speculation over Christie’s long-term future have already begun as his current deal gets set to expire at the end of the 2021/22 campaign. The player himself has already admitted that he’s in no rush to get it sorted either in a worrying admission (Sunday Post).
But what can’t be denied is the rewards Celtic have gained and the strides the player has made since that initial deal was signed back in November 2018.
At the time it was penned, Christie was just starting to break into the team. At the time, he had only scored five goals for the club and was only starting to make his breakthrough under Brendan Rodgers.
Just months beforehand, Christie was out honing his craft at Aberdeen. It had been his third loan spell since initially signing for Celtic from Inverness in the summer of 2015. This deal was always going to make or break his Celtic career, and it’s most definitely been the former.
Fast forward two years and the attacker is now one of the first names on Neil Lennon’s teamsheet. A managerial change didn’t affect his development either, with Christie slowly taking Tom Rogic’s place as the new first-choice number 10.
And his numbers show just how much he’s paid Celtic back since that deal was penned. In 112 appearances for the Hoops, Christie has managed a criminally under-rated 70 direct goal contributions. Those are made up of 36 goals and 34 assists (Transfermarkt).
Goals, assists, medals, and versatility
He’s also managed to become a lot more versatile within those two years also. Christie now has plenty of experience both as a lone-striker and as a right-winger. There have even been times when he’s dropped deeper into a more central midfield role.
Christie’s game has developed ridiculously, with the key trait he’s added being a killer ball. His vision, crossing ability, eye for a goal – all of that has improved substantially, and Celtic are seeing that shine in big games.
He’s now scored in Europe, cup semi-finals and finals, and on the international stage too. The attacking midfielder’s record of eight goals and eight assists in European competition certainly show his progression.
The former Inverness starlet is now one of the first names on Steve Clarke’s Scotland team-sheet too. That’s a position he’s earned with his remarkable consistency levels at Parkhead.
Sure, there remains plenty to work on – let’s get that right. We still see plenty of crosses that go wayward whilst a tendency to shoot when a better option is on can also frustrate supporters.
But Christie’s growth over the last two years has been sensational, and exactly what Celtic would’ve been looking for when he signed his new deal.
Hopefully, he pens another one before the season is out and we can continue to build a team around him.
In other news, we discuss why Celtic should avoid sanctioning a January move that would undoubtedly improve the team.
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