Albion are “getting a good egg” in Matt O’Riley who could fill the role left by Pascal Gross, according to a Celtic expert.

Brighton unveiled O’Riley yesterday afternoon after he signed on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee reportedly worth £25 million.

The Celtic Way reporter Ryan McGinlay said the young Danish midfielder proved integral to the Scottish side last season.

And, commenting on the transfer, he thought that he O’Riley could fill the space left by Gross’s summer move to Dortmund.

Speaking to The Argus, McGinlay said: “It’s a sad one to see him go but it’s a good move for him. He has been ever present in the team.

“He came in and immediately he took people by surprise by how cultured he was on the ball.

“I would say he is a like-for-like replacement for Pascal Gross.

“If he is going to do the same as he has at Celtic then he will be a roaming midfielder. He will be running late into the box, that was a big feature of his game.

“He does a lot of running off the ball. He gets about on the pitch.”

Following his move, reportedly worth a Scottish record fee, O’Riley has been described as a bright star for the current champions.

Signed from MK Dons in January 2022 for a reported £1.5 million fee, the young midfielder forced his way into Brendan Rodgers’ team where he has flourished.

Rodgers called him “absolutely magnificent” and a player the club would be sad to lose – a feeling which McGinlay thinks is reflected across the club.

He added: “No one has a bad word to say about Matt. Brighton are getting a good egg who will get along with everyone.

“I think everyone at Celtic is wishing him well. It will be a very, very difficult hole to fill.

“Last season he was everything for Celtic.”

McGinlay told of how O’Riley, originally of Fulham, decided to leave the club during lockdown to train on his own at just 19 years old.

He spent six months without a club training in parks in West London with his father and “waiting for the right move”.

That was until he was offered a space with MK Dons – then managed by Brighton-born Russell Martin.

From there the midfielder shone and earned his move to Celtic. Now 23, McGinlay feels that O’Riley will continue to grow under Fabian Huerzeler.

He said: “It’s all about the project and he was all about that.

“He will be playing under a manager who clearly wants the most for his players.

“I think he will adapt like a duck to water.”

On how he could fit into the Brighton set-up, the Celtic reporter believed he could offer another attacking threat from midfield for Fabian Huerzeler.

For Celtic, O’Riley made scored 19 goals and assisted 18 more from central midfield.

For Brighton, he could fit into the roaming role that Huerzeler used James Milner in against Manchester United.

O’Riley’s move to the south coast comes after speculation he could be on the move to Atletico Madrid last January.

McGinlay added that he was “surprised” he had not garnered more interest from other Premier League clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool.

Celtic captain Callum McGregor also praised O’Riley, adding: “He’s been fantastic for us.

“I am here to help him if he needs any help, we have had a couple of chats but to be honest he’s been fantastic with the way he has dealt with it, treated everybody with respect, and the way that he has trained and played has shown that as well.

“Whatever happens will happen and he can hold his head high because of the way that he has conducted himself for sure.”

Fabian Huerzeler described O’Riley as having “good ambition”, adding: “He plays a very specialist position; he is very good at occupying and attacking the right space. He likes making deep runs, and know when to attack at the right time.

“He enjoys getting forward and attacking the opponent's penalty area, but he also has a good defensive instinct. That balance makes him special. He is a great character, and has a good ambition to succeed and that's something which is very important for us.”