Matt O’Riley will undoubtedly be remembered as one of Celtic’s best signings since the arrival of Henrik Larsson in 1997 for £650k. Matt cost £1.5m in January 2022 and leaves the club as our Player of the Year, earning Celtic a record breaking fee that should reach £30m!
The Danish international midfielder has officially completed his transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion, with the move confirmed on Monday. While the exact fee remains undisclosed, reports suggest that the initial amount is £26 million and could rise to £30 million with performance-related add-ons.
Brighton’s Ambition and O’Riley’s New Chapter
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler expressed his excitement over O’Riley’s arrival, highlighting the player’s “special” abilities as a key addition to the team’s ambitions in the English Premier League. In his first interview as a Brighton player, O’Riley revealed that negotiations had been ongoing for several months, with discussions taking place well before the transfer became public knowledge.
O’Riley shared his thoughts on the move with Brighton’s media team: “I’m very, very happy. It’s definitely taken a while. It got a little bit stressful over the last couple of weeks if I’m honest. The talks were ongoing for a good couple of months. I’m just really happy to be here.”
He added, “It’s hard to leave Celtic. I think people don’t realise how big the club is until you get up there. It’s a real family club. It’s a very unique place in terms of the passion the fans have, that’s something I’ve never experienced before. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I’m still a little bit emotional speaking about it because I have such good memories there. I just felt like the right time for a new challenge for me.”
O’Riley’s Impressive Contribution to Celtic
During his time at Celtic, O’Riley made 124 appearances, scoring 27 goals and providing 35 assists. His 37 direct goal contributions last season alone underline his critical role in the team’s success. Over his tenure, O’Riley helped the club secure six trophies and earned numerous individual accolades, being hailed as the best player at Celtic during the 2023/24 season.
As O’Riley embarks on this new chapter at Brighton, he leaves Celtic with the best wishes of the club and its supporters, who fondly remember his contributions on the pitch. Good luck, Matt!
