Celtic tie down 'exceptional' first-team starlet on new long-term contract as belief manifested

The 20-year-old academy graduate has been rewarded for strong form this season with an extended five-year deal that ties him to Celtic until the summer of 2031.

Donovan broke into the Celtic first-team last season, earning a total of 15 starts as he moved ahead of Anthony Ralston in the pecking order while covering for the injured Alistair Johnston.

With Canadian international Johnston ruled out again at the start of this season, Donovan has become a regular in Martin O’Neill’s side , starting 15 out of 17 matches in all competitions thus far.

His form led to a maiden Scotland call-up under new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli last month although he remained an unused subsitute across the four matches as he awaits a first senior cap.

Celtic manager O’Neill hailed Donovan’s contract extension as “fanstastic news”, adding: “Although still a very young player, he has shown such maturity, strength and resilience. In fact, he has been exceptional for us.

“He has come in when we needed him, given everything for our cause and shown what a quality player he is. “He is a young man with a tremendous attitude and with a recent international call-up as well, he has had a phenomenal few months.

“I know the love Colby has for the club and I know what signing this deal means to him and his family. I am sure that he will continue to progress and enjoy a very big future in the game, and I am so pleased that he sees his long-term future at Celtic.”

Donovan insisted that he always felt he could become a regular starter for Celtic at he was emerging from the youth ranks.

“I'm over the moon,” he said. “As a young boy coming through at Celtic, you thrive to be a first-team player, and to think where I am now and where I was a year ago today, it's been a rollercoaster.

“I've loved every single minute, but it doesn't stop now. I'm just going to keep kicking on.

“You've got to have that belief as a young player coming through here at Celtic. You see all the signings that they bring in and it's a top club they expect to win every single week.

“So as a young player, it's tough, but you always need to believe, and I know for certain when I was a kid, I knew I could come through and do it.”

“All the Academy boys that have come through have been brilliant. You see Callum and James, KT and Raldo. They've all been great servants of this club.

“I love taking bits out of their game. I was a young boy and I used to watch them, growing up, and now I'm playing alongside them and I'm good mates for them. It's just a dream come true.”