Juventus have reportedly reached a draft agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Matt O’Riley, securing the 24-year-old Danish international’s signature on a five-year contract worth €3 million per season, according to Turin-based outlet Tuttosport. The £25 million-rated star, who joined Brighton from Celtic last summer for the same fee, has been a prime target for the Serie A giants, who moved swiftly to outmaneuver interest from Everton, Roma, and Nottingham Forest. Manager Igor Tudor sees O’Riley as the ideal addition to bolster Juventus’ midfield, particularly after their pursuit of Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand stalled due to a €50 million price tag. The transfer, however, hinges on Juventus offloading at least one midfielder, with Douglas Luiz, Weston McKennie, and Fabio Miretti among the candidates to make way.
O’Riley’s maiden season at Brighton was marred by an ankle injury sustained on his debut against Crawley Town, limiting him to 23 appearances across all competitions, where he scored three goals and provided three assists. Despite the setback, his pre-season performances have been electric, with one goal and two assists in Brighton’s unbeaten warm-up fixtures, including a standout display in a 2-1 win over Wolfsburg. His versatility as a central or attacking midfielder, combined with a 79.8% pass completion rate and 1.5 key passes per 90 minutes, makes him a perfect fit for Tudor’s 3-4-2-1 system. Everton’s earlier interest, reported by Football Insider, faded due to Brighton’s firm £25 million valuation, which Juventus are now prepared to meet following their swift negotiations with O’Riley’s entourage.
The transfer saga underscores Juventus’ determination to strengthen their squad after a third-place Serie A finish last season, with Tudor aiming to close the gap on champions Napoli. O’Riley’s potential move to Turin would see him follow in the footsteps of fellow Dane Christian Eriksen, who thrived in Serie A with Inter Milan. Brighton, however, are reluctant to lose the former Fulham academy graduate, who has four years left on his contract and impressed manager Fabian Hurzeler with his pre-season form. The Seagulls’ depth in midfield, bolstered by new signings like Mats Wieffer and Georginio Rutter, may ease the blow, but O’Riley’s departure could impact their ambitions in the Premier League and Europa League.
As the transfer window nears its September 1 deadline, Juventus are working to finalize the deal by raising funds through player sales, with Luiz’s potential loan to Everton a key factor. O’Riley’s openness to the move, as noted by Yardbarker, reflects his ambition to test himself in one of Europe’s top leagues, despite earlier links to Atalanta and Napoli. Brighton fans, while disappointed, are buoyed by the club’s proactive transfer strategy, but losing O’Riley’s creativity could pose challenges for their season opener against Everton. For Juventus, securing the London-born midfielder represents a statement of intent, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the transfer market.[](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/football/brighton-and-hove-albion/brighton-fc-news-transfers-matt-oriley-juventus-celtic-5265673)[](https://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/report_juventus_have_an_agreement_in_principle_with_brighton_star/s1_16484_42570322)
