Former Collis School pupil signs for Brighton in £30m transfer deal from Celtic
A former pupil from Teddington’s Collis School has joined Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion from Celtic in a five-year deal estimated to be worth £30m, it was confirmed today.
Attacking midfielder Matt O’Riley, aged 23, who was born in West Middlesex Hospital and lived with his family on Langham Road, Teddington has strong local links and in his younger days he played for the NPL (National Physical Laboratory) Youth Team.
He joined Fulham’s Academy when he was just eight-years-old and made his Championship debut for Fulham as a 19-year-old before leaving in the summer of 2020 to join MK Dons and then joining Celtic in January 2022.
In his last season with Celtic he scored 19 goals with 18 assists and was voted the Club’s player of the year, Players’ Player of the Year and won the young Player of the Year award. Other European clubs including Athletico Madrid had expressed an interest in signing him as well as Chelsea and Southampton.
Matt, who has chosen to play for Denmark because of his mother Gitte’s nationality, has scored 27 goals in 125 appearances for Celtic, collecting six winners’ medals, including three Scottish Premiership titles.
In a Brighton & Hove Albion video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM_plJ6Um8Q) Matt said: “I am very happy to be here. The manager did a very good job selling the club to me and told me how he thought I would fit in.
“He said he would help me improve which I am very keen to do. I feel I am very much a team player and I want what’s best for the team. I will always give my best and and work hard.”
Matt is also close friends with England and Arsenal’s midfielder Declan Rice, 25, who was born in Kingston and attended Grey Court School in Ham.
Matt lifts the trophy representing Brentford FC at Wembley for the Npower League 1 Kids Cup in 2012 aged 11.
Celtic manager, Brendan Rogers [aid tribute to Matt’s contribution to the club saying: “He has been absolutely magnificent in this last year. He gave everything to the team and the club. Right up to his very last day he was out doing extra work. That shows the mentality he has.
“So, I’m pleased for Matt in terms that he gets a move to the Premier League – and for us, we push on. That’s the model of the club.”
As a youngster he idolised Lionel Messi, also a left footer, as well as the classy Italian icon Andrea Pirlo and Ronaldo. His father describes him as a ‘student of the game’ rather than a big fan of one team
Matt’s proud dad Dominic and mum Gitte, who lived in Teddington
Matt, aged about 8 (standing left) in the wheelbarrow race at Collis School with friend Alex LambShowing his left foot skills at an early age at his home in Langham Road and wearing the famous Celtic hoops
