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Celtic confirm Matt O’Riley transfer to Brighton has been completed

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Matt O’Riley in now officially an ex-Celtic player having today concluded his transfer to Premier League side Brighton, in a deal worth an initial record breaking fee of £26m with around £4m of add-ons included with the transfer agreement.

Celtic and Brighton have confirmed the transfer via the club’s various social media channels and also on the official Celtic FC website, saying the following:

Everyone at Celtic Park wishes Matt O’Riley every success in his move to English Premier League side, Brighton & Hove Albion.

The midfielder joined the Hoops in the winter transfer window of 2021/22 from Milton Keynes Dons, making his debut against Hearts at Tynecastle in a 2-1 win towards the end of January.

That was the first of his 124 Celtic games, during which he scored 27 goals. His first goal for the Hoops came in a 3-2 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie just a fortnight after his debut, while his last goal was on Trophy Day against St Mirren in May as he helped the Celts to a 3-2 victory at the end of a title-winning campaign.

The Danish internationalist leaves Celtic having lifted three Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and one League Cup as well as sweeping the boards last season at the club’s Player of the Year awards by winning all three categories – Player, Young Player and Players’ Player of the Year.

A mark of his input over the past few seasons can also be seen in the number of assists he has accumulated over his time at Celtic – 35 in all.

Matt leaves with the best wishes of everyone at Celtic Park and the image above says it all – THANK YOU, MATT!

Reading that, I realised that I was lucky enough to witness Matt’s first and last goal and most of the ones in between. Not since the King of Kings left has a player been transferred from Celtic with so many good wishes coming from the entire Celtic support.

Matt O’Riles scores his first goal for Celtic against Aberdeen at Pittodrie in February 2022. Photo Jane Barlow

Nobody at Celtic has ever had a bad word to say about the young man who conducted himself brilliantly on and off the park and soaked up every wonderful moment of his time at a club he instinctively knew is very special.

Matt will always have a special place for Celtic in his heart and he should know that’s exactly the way we all feel about him. Hopefully he comes up on a free midweek, perhaps on a Champions League night, where we can give him the send-off that he deserves.

Brilliant lad, and a wonderful footballer. Be proud that he wore our Hoops.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor David Faulds has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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