NafisaFormer Celtic standout Matt O’Riley has revealed his dissatisfaction with his role at Brighton, maintaining that his strengths are best utilised in the No.8 central midfield slot. Speaking to Danish media, O’Riley shared that he has already communicated his stance to Brighton’s young manager Fabian Hürzeler.
The 24-year-old made the move to Brighton from Celtic after clinching both the Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year accolades the previous season. However, O’Riley has found it difficult to cement a consistent place in the starting lineup due to an injury sustained during his debut.
That said, he has delivered solid performances across 23 appearances, contributing three assists and netting two goals – one of which came from the penalty spot against Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs.
“I am not completely happy, and I am just giving my opinion. It makes it difficult to show off when you play a position you are not completely happy with. I can play better for the team if I play the number 8 position, but I can play well in other positions.
“You can say it in a way that is not aggressive. If you are honest with another person, you don’t lose anything.
“The coach can always say he doesn’t agree.”
Everton have shown interest in O’Riley, and several Serie A clubs are also keen on securing the midfielder’s services. There’s little doubt that O’Riley could be enticed by these prospects if they offer him the opportunity to play in his favoured role.
Ange brought O’Riley to Celtic for £1.5m in January 2022, with the former MK Dons talent playing a key part in helping Celtic surpass Rangers in a memorable midweek Glasgow Derby victory and then maintaining their grip on the top spot over the following two seasons. He departed Celtic with three league championships, two Scottish Cups, and one League Cup to his name.
The Danish international sealed a £25m+ transfer during the summer following a remarkable personal campaign, which ended with Brendan Rodgers’ side securing a domestic double of the League and Cup.
O’Riley exited Celtic after making 124 appearances, registering 27 goals and 35 assists.
Arsenal bid farewell to Kieran Tierney ahead of Celtic return
Arsenal have issued a heartfelt tribute to outgoing Kieran Tierney ahead of his summer return to Celtic. The Premier League runners-up determined at the start of the year that the 2024/25 season would be Tierney’s final one, opting not to trigger the clause to extend the Scotland international’s contract.
This paved the way for Celtic to launch a stunning bid to bring the lifelong Celtic supporter back to the club he departed in the summer of 2019. Arsenal, however, have evidently acknowledged the calibre of Tierney both on and off the pitch and shared a touching online tribute to the defender.
Tierney featured in 144 matches for the Gunners, finding the net six times and registering 14 assists. The left-back heads back to Glasgow with an FA Cup winner’s medal, though there’s a sense that he could have — and maybe should have — achieved even more during his stint in North London.
There were opportunities to stay in the Premier League, with David Moyes’ Everton showing interest, alongside European sides – including Sevilla, Bayer Leverkusen, and Juventus – all keen on securing his services. Celtic not only presented Tierney with an emotional homecoming but also the chance to help elevate the team’s European ambitions.
No official word has yet come from Celtic concerning Tierney, whose contract expires on June 30th, but anticipation is mounting among the fans about the potential return of the Celtic favourite to the Hoops.
Nafisa
