Brighton midfielder Matt O’Riley has attracted interest from Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund ahead of the summer window, with Tottenham also quietly entering the picture as an unlikely suitor — bolstered by Roberto de Zerbi’s personal admiration for the player, per TEAMtalk.
Both Atletico and Dortmund have registered what is described as serious interest in the 25-year-old Denmark international, who cut short a loan spell at Marseille earlier this year. O’Riley arrived at Brighton from Celtic in August 2024 in a deal worth £25 million — a record sale for a Scottish club at the time.
His spell at the Amex has been far from straightforward. A combination of injuries and limited opportunities under Fabian Hurzeler prompted a season-long loan to Marseille in September 2025, where he made 25 appearances, scored once, and contributed in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League before being recalled by Brighton in February 2026 to help shore up their squad for the run-in. Regular Premier League football has nonetheless remained elusive, and Brighton are understood to be willing to sanction a permanent exit this summer at the right valuation — seeing it as an opportunity to recoup their outlay and reshape their midfield options.
Brighton are believed to be holding out for around £35 million, though a sell-on clause in favour of Celtic would effectively push the true cost higher for any interested party. Atletico Madrid’s pursuit is a revival of longstanding interest — Diego Simeone’s side previously pursued O’Riley during his time at Celtic, and his energetic, box-to-box profile aligns well with the demands of Simeone’s system. Dortmund, meanwhile, are eyeing midfield reinforcements ahead of what could be a transitional campaign under Niko Kovac, with O’Riley’s versatility and pressing ability seen as a strong fit at Signal Iduna Park. Marseille retain an interest in making the arrangement permanent but may find it difficult to compete financially with the other clubs involved.
Tottenham, however, are worth monitoring. De Zerbi is said to hold O’Riley in high regard, and his name has reportedly featured in internal recruitment conversations at Spurs. Should Tottenham secure their top-flight status, a formal approach would not come as a surprise. For O’Riley himself, a move to the Bundesliga, La Liga, or another Premier League club would represent a meaningful step up — offering the consistent playing time that has eluded him at Brighton. The Seagulls, for their part, remain open to offers but will not let the midfielder leave cheaply, with his contract running until 2029 giving them firm negotiating leverage.
