Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley is on the brink of completing a move to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, with both clubs having reached an agreement, according to respected Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
The deal will see Celtic pocket an initial £25 million for the Denmark international, with potential add-ons pushing the total package to £30 million—a record sum for a player sold by Celtic and the highest fee ever received by a Scottish club.
Celtic had previously rebuffed several offers from Atalanta for O’Riley, standing firm on their valuation of the 23-year-old playmaker. Brighton have now met those demands, and O’Riley’s transfer is expected to be finalized before the start of next week.
With O’Riley’s departure imminent, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers faces the pressing task of finding a suitable replacement. The Hoops have less than seven days to secure a player capable of replicating the Dane’s influence in midfield.
Last season, O’Riley was instrumental in Celtic’s domestic success, contributing 19 goals and 18 assists in 49 appearances. His creativity and eye for goal will be sorely missed, and filling the void he leaves behind will be no small feat.
Several names have been linked as potential replacements for O’Riley, including Philadelphia Union’s Daniel Gazdag, Southampton’s Shea Charles, and Tanner Tessmann of Venezia. Another recent addition to the list of targets is Los Angeles FC’s attacking midfielder Mateusz Bogusz.
Meanwhile, Japan international Kyogo Furuhashi could also be on his way to the Premier League, with Manchester City reportedly eyeing him as a potential replacement for Julian Alvarez. Should City make a move, Celtic would likely demand around £20 million for Furuhashi.
Selling two of their top players for nearly £50 million represents shrewd business for Celtic. However, the club now faces the challenge of finding the right replacements to maintain their dominance domestically and to make an impact in European competitions.