Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler has said Matt O’Riley will bring a “special” balance to his team after signing the midfielder from Celtic for a reported fee of more than £25 million – a record sum received by a Scottish team.
Denmark international O’Riley has joined the Seagulls on a five-year contract, having won the Men’s Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Men’s Players’ Player of the Year awards at the Scottish Premiership side in 2023-24.
“He plays a very specialist position,” explained Hurzeler, who made it two wins from two matches as a Premier League manager in Brighton’s last-gasp 2-1 victory at home to Manchester United on Saturday.
“He is very good at occupying and attacking the right space. He likes making deep runs and knows when to attack at the right time.
“He enjoys getting forward and attacking the opponent’s penalty area but he also has a good defensive instinct. That balance makes him special. He is a great character and has a good ambition to succeed. That’s something which is very important for us.”
Welcome to the Albion, Matt O’Riley! 🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/44NgSIVa7G
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 26, 2024
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Matt O’Riley stats
O’Riley joined Fulham in his birth city of London as an eight-year-old, playing once for the club during his 11 years at Craven Cottage.
A switch to MK Dons followed in January 2021, where his run of 10 goals in 49 appearances enticed the Hoops to pay a reported £1.5m for him.
With Celtic, O’Riley won the Scottish Premiership three times, a domestic treble in 2023 and a league and cup double last season, scoring 27 goals during his career at Celtic Park.
He played for England up to Under-21 level but took the option to play for Denmark through his Danish mother, making his debut at senior level in November 2023.
There’s a new Bhoy in Brighton. 🍀 pic.twitter.com/64coWeevmi
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 26, 2024
Matt O’Riley: Celtic ‘pleased’
Speaking as O’Riley headed for his medical at Brighton, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers called the 23-year-old’s contribution over the last year “absolutely magnificent”.
“He gave everything to the team and the club,” added Rodgers. “Right up to his very last day, he was out doing extra work. That shows the mentality he has.
“I’m pleased for Matt in terms that he gets a move to the Premier League – and for us, we push on. That’s the model of the club.”
Celtic are said to have insisted on receiving more for O’Riley than they did in their previous deals to set the outgoing transfer record in Scotland.
The reigning champions sold winger Jota to Al-Ittihad for £25m in July 2023 and full-back Kieran Tierney to Arsenal for the same price in 2019.
Portuguese Jota is being linked with a return to Celtic after enduring a difficult time in Saudi Arabia, where he did not take part in Al-Ittihad’s pre-season preparations.
