Brighton & Hove Albion have strengthened their squad with the signing of Matt O’Riley from Celtic for a reported £25 million ($33 million).
The Denmark international has signed a five-year contract, marking another significant addition to Brighton’s summer transfer window.
Seagulls head coach Fabian Hurzeler expressed his excitement about the new signing, highlighting O’Riley’s ability to find and exploit space on the pitch.
“He plays a very specialized position, he is very good at occupying and attacking the right spaces,” Hurzeler said. “He likes to go forward and attack the opponent’s penalty area, but he also has good defensive instincts. That balance makes him special.”
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O’Riley brings versatility and purpose
O’Riley joins Brighton after an impressive spell at Celtic, where he was named the club’s player of the year last season.
The midfielder has scored 19 goals and provided 18 assists in 49 appearances in all competitions. His performances have not gone unnoticed and Brighton have moved quickly to secure his services before the transfer window closes.
Welcome to Albion, Matt O’Riley! ?? pic.twitter.com/44NgSIVa7G
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 26, 2024
O’Riley is just one of a number of new faces at Brighton this summer. The club has been very active, with the likes of Georginio Rutter, Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer joining.
Meanwhile, Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce have confirmed that Ferdi Kadioglu is in talks with Brighton, potentially adding more depth to Hurzeler’s squad.
Brighton sit second in the Premier League table after back-to-back wins over Everton and Manchester United. O’Riley’s arrival further strengthens the team’s promising start to the season. Brighton’s next game will be a tough test, as they take on Arsenal on Saturday.
