Our subject today is English-born footballer Matt O'Riley. Born on the 21st of November 2000, O’Riley is a central midfielder currently gracing the pitch for Brighton & Hove Albion, adorned with the number 33 on his jersey. Off the pitch, he's an impressive figure, standing at 6ft 1in (1.87m) and weighing in at 12st 1lb (77kg). O’Riley also flexes his skills on the international stage, having appeared for the Danish national team.
According to the Transfermarkt, O'Riley's current market value hovers around the £17m mark.
His journey to the present has been one of determination and progression. Fulham, a Premier League side, welcomed him as a trainee in July 2009. His time at Fulham was introductory at most, with O'Riley making but a singular appearance for the first team in the 2019-2020 season.
O’Riley then made a transfer to MK Dons in England's League Two in January 2021. The fee, unfortunately, remains undisclosed. A year later, in January 2022, O'Riley moved further north to join Celtic, a Premiership side in Scotland, for around £1.5m.
It was with Celtic that O'Riley began to truly distinguish himself on the football field. His first season saw him make 16 appearances and net four goals. He upped the ante for the 2022-2023 season, with 38 appearances and three goals. Yet it was in the 2023-2024 season where his talent really shone through, contributing a whopping 18 goals in 37 appearances. His last season, 2024-2025, was brief with only two appearances.
Post his stint with Celtic, O'Riley moved back to England in August 2024, signing with Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League for a substantial fee of around £25m. So far, during his tenure, he has made 25 appearances and scored three goals. He also had a bout of international play in the form of a loan to Marseille, a Ligue 1 side in France, during the 2025-2026 season. Despite 15 appearances and one goal, he returned to Brighton following the end of his loan in February 2026.
Looking beyond club football, O'Riley has the distinction of representing Denmark during the World Cup Qualifiers Europe 2024 - 2026 season, trotting on as a substitute twice.
