Celtic windfall back on as three Italian clubs in race to sign Matt O’Riley | OneFootball

Italian interest in former Celtic Player of the Year Matt O’Riley is intensifying with Serie A Champions Napoli stealing a march on Roma and Atalanta by lodging a €30m bid for the Brighton midfielder.

Matt O’Riley of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during the Scottish Premiership match between theRangers and Celtic FC at Ibrox on April 07, 2024. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas reports: “Exclusive: Brighton have received a €30m offer from Napoli for Matt O’Riley. Still considered important to #bhafc project but will entertain offers that meet their valuation.”

With Roma also interested in signing O’Riley it looks increasingly likely that the Denmark international will be on the move again this summer looking for a top club who will play him in his favoured position as an 8 or a 10 as the former Celt looks to force his way into the Denmark team ahead of the World Cup Finals next summer.

Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of Atalanta BC looks on prior to the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Udinese Calcio at Gewiss Stadium on March 04, 2023 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)

We told you earlier this week that ex-Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini, now at Roma, is keen to bring O’Riley to the Italian capital but his old club Atalanta remain interested in the classy midfielder.

Atletico Madrid may also enter the race, having tried to sign the player while at Celtic and there’s also significant interest in O’Riley from Saudi Arabia. One call to to his pal Jota might be enough to scupper that one.

Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium crosses the ball past Josip Juranovic of Croatia during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F match between Croatia and Belgium at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on December 01, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Napoli have Scott McTominay in their team and have just signed Kevin De Bruyne. They also have Billy Gilmour with all three coming from the Premier League. O’Riley has shown he is a competent performer at Champions League level and might fancy a chance to play in club football most elite level with Napoli next season.

Playing alongside Kevin De Bruyne might also be something he’d relish.

Matt O’Riley’s Football Friends photo from Instagram back in January 2025

Things are certainly looking up for Matt O’Riley. Brighton will know that they are in a strong position amid intense interest in O’Riley and that can only force up the price, which in turn could produce a smallish but welcome transfer windfall for Celtic. Here’s hoping!

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