Brighton Secure Matt O'Riley in £25m Deal from Celtic

Brighton have completed the signing of midfielder Matt O'Riley from Scottish champions Celtic for a record £25 million fee. The London-born Denmark international has agreed to a five-year contract with the Seagulls, which will keep him at the club until June 2029.

O'Riley, 23, has been a standout performer for Celtic, netting 27 goals in 124 appearances and securing six trophies, including three Scottish Premiership titles. His move to Brighton matches the Scottish transfer record previously set by Al-Ittihad's £25 million deal for Jota and Kieran Tierney's transfer to Arsenal in 2019.

Reflecting on his departure, O'Riley expressed his affection for Celtic. “It is hard. People probably don't realize how big the club is until you get up there. It's a real family club and one that I was made to feel welcome at very early on,” he said. “It is still a little bit emotional speaking about it because I had such good memories there, but it just felt like the right time for a new challenge for me.”

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler praised O'Riley's box-to-box capabilities, describing him as a "special" talent with a strong ambition to succeed. "He is a great character, and his ambition is something very important for us," Hurzeler added.

O'Riley's arrival marks Brighton's seventh signing of a busy summer transfer window. The club also secured French forward Georginio Rutter from Leeds for a club-record £40 million and Netherlands midfielder Mats Wieffer from Feyenoord for around £25.5 million.

Brighton have enjoyed a strong start to the Premier League season, sitting second in the table after victories over Everton and Manchester United.