Matt O'Riley

Celtic are closing in on a deal to sign Matt O’Riley from MK Dons for £1.5 million, The Athleticunderstands.



The 21-year-old, who moved to the League One club from Fulham last January, is expected to join Ange Postecoglou’s side in the next couple of days.



A former England youth international, O’Riley has attracted interest from clubs across Europe and in the Championship, where Blackburn Rovers and Swansea City were both strongly linked with the attacking midfielder.



With seven goals and five assists to his name for MK Dons this season, O’Riley has been one of the standout players in League One.



Fulham are due a sizeable sell-on fee, understood to be as high as 50 per cent, as part of the compensation settlement that was agreed when O’Riley signed for MK Dons last January.



O’Riley had spent the previous six months training with MK Dons after rejecting the chance to stay at Fulham, where he had been since the age of eight.








So, what can Celtic expect from O’Riley?
After spending six months without a club during the height of the pandemic, O’Riley is thriving at MK Dons.



O’Riley profiles as something of an all-action midfielder who comes alive in the middle and final third.



The right-footed midfielder has seven goals and five assists to his name, with his distribution, finishing and dribbling all catching the eye this season.



O’Riley enjoys taking shots on, registering 40 shots so far in his 26 league appearances, and is a key part of MK Dons promotion-chasing form — with him on the pitch, they average 1.77 points per match and are 0.58 goals per 90 minutes better off (FBref).

 

Definitely fits the profile. Decent height is a bonus too.

Interesting.

 

Interesting indeed!

 

Came out of nowhere and looks done looking at newsnow

 

Watched both the player of the month montages on MK dons youtube and he seems very similiar to Turnbull. I always mind him from FM when he was younger at Fulham.

 

The first 40 seconds or so absolutely sold him to me from a positioning perspective. He seems to love taking up the “half spaces” that Ange likes our centre mids to find. I think the term is “mezzala” but perhaps a Football Manager lover can confirm

He looks very comfortable on the ball. Not the quickest acceleration wise, but covers the ground well (as you say, down to his stride). Looks a proper all rounder and some of his passing looks top notch.

It’s a shame he’s never scored a scorpion kick or the Aussies would all be piling in to tell us how incredible he is

 

Is he first team ready yis reckon? We will have some amount of Midfielders if he signs..

 

Another one to go out on loan.

 

Look a player! Great range of passing.