Brighton have accomplished the signing of midfielder Matt O’Riley from Celtic.
The transfer will set a brand new file switch price acquired by a Scottish membership, which beforehand stood at £25m following Jota’s transfer from Celtic to Al Ittihad final summer season.
Celtic had rejected 5 bids from Atalanta for O’Riley – who scored 19 targets and contributed 18 assists final season – with the Italian membership’s highest supply being £21.5m plus add-ons.
The 23-year-old Denmark worldwide was beneath contract at Celtic till 2027, with the membership additionally knocking again a proposal of £20m from Atletico Madrid in January.
Brighton have already made some huge cash additions this summer season with the club-record £40m signing of ahead Georginio Rutter and midfielder Brajan Gruda becoming a member of for round £25m.
Talking after Sunday’s 3-0 win at St Mirren, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers instructed Sky Sports activities he’s “hopeful” of bringing in a alternative for the ex-MK Dons midfielder earlier than the switch window closes on Friday.
“We will, fingers crossed, get that sorted this week,” he mentioned. “We now have choices which hopefully shall be shut.
“But as long as we can get it into the club by next Friday, I’ll be really pleased. The group’s performing well, but we want to strengthen that too.”
Why Celtic’s loss is Brighton’s achieve
O’Riley moved to Celtic from MK Dons in January 2022
Sky Sports activities’ Sahil Jaidka and Alison Conroy:
A lot of the dialog round O’Riley’s transfer from Celtic to Brighton shall be related to cash.
The transfer has set a brand new file price acquired by a Scottish Premiership membership, surpassing Celtic’s gross sales of Jota and Kieran Tierney.
Nonetheless, don’t be fooled into pondering simply cash issues to O’Riley.
The Denmark worldwide is level-headed and pushed by enhancing as a participant – not enhancing his wages.
After coming by means of the Fulham academy, he turned down a contract extension at his boyhood membership. As an alternative, he skilled in London parks together with his dad for six months earlier than becoming a member of MK Dons.
It was a calculated transfer by O’Riley, and one which paid off. He scored 10 targets and created eight assists throughout his breakthrough in senior soccer on the then-League One membership.
O’Riley joined Celtic from MK Dons for £1.5m
Consequently, groups from throughout the Premier League, Championship and Europe famous an curiosity within the midfielder. Nonetheless, it was a transfer to Celtic that caught his consideration in January 2022, however why was that £1.5m change proper for him?
He mentioned: “I wouldn’t just join a club if they paid me a certain amount of money if the style wasn’t right. I’m not that kind of guy.”
O’Riley made an instantaneous influence with two assists in his opening 4 video games, earlier than scoring his first Celtic purpose in a win over Aberdeen.
The 23-year-old by no means appeared again. In the course of the subsequent marketing campaign, he completed with 14 assists and 4 targets, after which final season was the one which noticed him turn out to be Celtic’s fundamental man.
He supplied targets and assists in abundance, with Celtic agreeing a brand new four-year cope with the participant final September to make sure they may command a file price when he determined it was time to maneuver on.
When O’Riley completed the season with 19 targets and 18 assists, it was little shock he then picked up the membership’s participant of the 12 months, gamers’ participant of the 12 months and younger participant of the 12 months awards.
O’Riley sealed a clear sweep of membership awards at Celtic final season
Not solely does O’Riley present targets, he creates huge possibilities for his team-mates and has confirmed he’s a participant who can deal with the large event.
Brighton may have one eye on breaking into European competitors beneath Fabian Hurzeler – and O’Riley’s presence may support that push.
He has already proven he can impress on the most important stage – including two assists to his spectacular numbers final season throughout Celtic’s disappointing Champions League group-stage marketing campaign.
In addition to the proper mindset and excellent potential – he additionally has a winner’s mindset. O’Riley leaves Celtic with six main honours – three league titles, two Scottish Cups and one League Cup. The Seagulls will hope he may also help convey silverware to the seaside.
How will Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers look to exchange O’Riley?
The query for Celtic is how do they change somebody who has made such an influence? They might want to go into the switch marketplace for a tried and examined attacking midfielder to fill that enormous O’Riley-shaped gap within the Parkhead dressing room.
Brighton’s achieve is most definitely Celtic’s loss.
Sutton: Changing O’Riley nigh on unattainable
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton on Sky Sports activities:
“He was Celtic’s best player last season and they can’t replace him essentially.
“I do not assume they want only one physique in, they want greater than that. Changing Matt O’Riley is nigh on unattainable.
“Paulo Bernardo will get the chance to show what he can do on a consistent basis.
“Celtic want extra high quality within the constructing. O’Riley is a gigantic loss, to lose him this late is an issue for Celtic.”
Former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov on Sky Sports activities:
“You can see how badly they will miss O’Riley but the club will continue. It is important how they spend that money.
“Celtic and Rangers produce gamers which different groups look to take to strengthen their groups. O’Riley has actually matured within the final 12 months and I’m not stunned a Premier League workforce has are available for him with an enormous worth.”
