Born on 21st November 2000, Matt O'Riley is an English-born midfielder who, at the age of 24, has secured a place playing central midfield for Brighton & Hove Albion. At 6ft 1in (1.87m) and weighing in at 12st 1lb (77kg), he commands a robust presence in the midfield. Designated with the number 33 jersey, O'Riley's nationality doesn't only extend to his birthland - he has also been a representative for the Denmark national team.
Today, O'Riley is valued at roughly £19m according to Transfermarkt (source). His contract with Brighton & Hove Albion has four years and four months left to run, expiring at the end of June 2029.
O'Riley's football journey began in earnest in July 2009, when he joined Fulham as a trainee. During the 2019-2020 season, he made a singular first team appearance. From Fulham, a transfer in January 2021 took O'Riley to MK Dons, for which the fee remains undisclosed.
A year later, in January 2022, came O'Riley's transformative move to Celtic. He made an immediate impact, facing the rival team 16 times and scoring four goals in his debut season. O'Riley's performance only amplified in the 2022-2023 season, with 38 appearances and three goals. But it was the following season, 2023 to 2024, where he truly shined, scoring 18 goals in his 37 appearances for Celtic. The current season saw him take to the pitch twice more before he wrapped up his Celtic career.
O'Riley's success at Celtic, however, came to an end in August 2024 after he was signed by Brighton & Hove Albion for an impressive £25m. Already, he has made 12 first team appearances and scored one goal in his first few months with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Outside of league matches, O'Riley represented Brighton & Hove Albion once in the FA Cup 2024-2025 as a substitute, once in the League Cup 2024-2025 where he started, and once started for Denmark in the Euro Qualifiers 2022-2024. A career, it seems, that's just getting started.
