Five years on from pitching up at Parkhead, Patrick Roberts still hasn’t laid down his roots.
Since a trophy-laden spell at Celtic, Paddy has had loan spells at Girona, Norwich, Middlesbrough, Derby and most recently French side Troyes to try kick-start his career.
After nearly half a season in France, Roberts has only played 13 minutes of football and was exiled from a squad that’s struggling for wins in the top flight of French football.
Roberts was a generational talent as a youngster, coveted by every big club, and described as “extraordinary” by Fulham boss Felix Magath, who handed him his Premier League debut.
Record Sport looks at six players who have had nomadic careers with a plethora of loan spells.
Cameron Carter-Vickers
The 24-year old joined Spurs Academy at the age of 11 but has never cemented himself as a mainstay at the north London club with his summer loan move to Celtic making it seven loan spells for the big defender.
The Parkhead club are desperate to make his move permanent and are said to have an option-to-buy clause for Carter-Vickers, who has been capped eight times by the United States.
Celtic supporters will hope that the centre-back has found a permanent home with them after his impressive displays this term.
Umar Sadiq
Italian clubs love a loan deal so it's no surprise the former Rangers man has turned out for a mind-boggling number of teams at the age of just 24.
Sadiq began his career at Spezia, with his first taste of first team action coming in a loan spell at Serie D side Lavagnese.
He was then loaned by Serie A giants Roma, who bought him outright after he hit two top flight goals in six appearances.
From there though it was temporary deals all the way. As well as his ill-fated spell at Ibrox, Sadiq has played for Bologna, Torino, NAC Breda, Perugia and Partizan Belgrade on loan.
The Serbian side eventually signed him outright and he's currently banging in the goals for Almeria in the Spanish second tier.
Brandon Barker
Barker is still on the books at Rangers but has never really established himself as a regular since joining the Ibrox ranks in 2019. This is a theme that's continued from the 25-year olds time at Manchester City.
The Premier League heavyweights loaned him out to Rotherham, NAC Breda, Hibs and Preston before his permanent move to Scotland.
Having struggled to break into the team though Rangers loaned him out to Oxford United last January, and another loan spell is possible.
Jake Hastie
Another Rangers forward on the list, and one whose real ability is not clear.
Motherwell loaned him out to Airdrie and Alloa as a youngster before recalling him from the latter in January 2019.
Hastie hit a hot streak with seven goals in 15 games to close out the season, convincing Rangers to snap him up.
Since then though he's managed just four goals in loan spells at Well, Rotherham and Partick Thistle.
Ryan Gauld
Branded 'Mini Messi' when he broke through at Dundee United, Gauld had his pick of clubs when he chose to leave Tannadice.
Sporting were the ones to snap him up but it was a challenge for the playmaker to break into their first team.
He made only five first team appearances and spent time on loan at Aves, Farense - who he later joined permanently - and Hibs.
Now 26, Gauld has found a home with Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer, bagging four goals and five assists last season.
Sheyi Ojo
A frustrating figure during his loan at Rangers, Ojo looks unlikely to add to his 13 appearances for Liverpool.
As well as his time at Ibrox he's been sent on loan to Fulham, Reims, Cardiff City and Millwall.
His contract at Anfield expires in the summer, at which point the winger will presumably make a more permanent move.
