Brighton & Hove Albion have made a significant signing in the form of midfielder Matt O’Riley from Scottish champions Celtic. The London-born Denmark international has joined the club for a fee of £25 million, signing a five-year contract until June 2029.
O’Riley, 23, had an impressive stint at Celtic, scoring 27 goals in 124 appearances and winning six trophies, including three Scottish Premiership titles. Speaking about his move, O’Riley expressed his happiness, although he admitted that the negotiations had been stressful in the past couple of weeks. He mentioned that talks had been ongoing for a few months, but he is now relieved to have joined Brighton.
The transfer fee paid by Brighton matches the Scottish transfer record, which was previously set by Al-Ittihad for the signing of Jota from Celtic last summer. It also represents a significant profit for Celtic, as they had initially signed O’Riley for a reported fee of £1.5 million from MK Dons in 2022.
When asked about his departure from Celtic, O’Riley spoke highly of the club, describing it as a “real family club” where he felt welcome from the beginning. He emphasized the unique passion of the fans and the good memories he had at the club. However, he felt that it was the right time for a new challenge in his career.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler praised O’Riley’s abilities as a box-to-box midfielder, highlighting his character and ambition to succeed. O’Riley’s signing adds to Brighton’s busy summer, which has already seen them make several notable signings. These include a club-record £40 million deal for French forward Georginio Rutter from Leeds and the acquisition of Netherlands midfielder Mats Wieffer from Feyenoord for around £25.5 million.
Brighton has had a strong start to the Premier League season, winning their opening two games against Everton and Manchester United. The addition of O’Riley to their midfield will undoubtedly strengthen their squad and provide them with more options going forward.
Overall, Brighton’s signing of Matt O’Riley from Celtic is a significant move for the club. O’Riley’s impressive performances at Celtic, combined with his potential as a young midfielder, make him a valuable addition to Brighton’s squad. As Brighton continues to make ambitious moves in the transfer market, it will be interesting to see how they fare in the Premier League and whether they can maintain their strong start to the season.