Fabian Hurzeler Maps Out Brighton Future For £25million Star On Marseille Loan

Matt O’Riley made the perhaps surprising move from Brighton to Marseille on deadline day.

The Danish midfield player, 24, scored for the Albion on the opening day of the new Premier League campaign in what ended in a 1-1 draw with Fulham.

He also played the full 90 against Everton the following weekend before he was kept on the bench vs Manchester City last week in the club’s 2-1 win over Pep Guardiola’s side.

That decision by Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler was to ensure his eventual move to France with Marseille would not be scuppered by any sort of potential injury issue, and the deal was concluded on deadline day.

It was a £1.7million loan fee spent by the Ligue 1 outfit with Brighton paying the ex-Celtic midfielder’s wages, but it did throw up questions regarding the playmaker’s future at the Amex Express Stadium.

O’Riley cost the club £30m when he arrived from the Hoops last year and has made 25 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring three goals and providing as many assists.

Fabian Hurzeler says Matt O’Riley has long-term Brighton future

The Denmark international still has plenty of potential – as identified by ex-Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi at Marseille – and that means his long-term plan might still be with his parent club.

At least, that is, according to manager Hurzeler who has already addressed the player and what may come next for him in England.

The 32-year-old German coach has insisted O’Riley will still have a good chance of returning at the end of this season from his loan with more experience and a future in the Premier League.

And the move is simply to allow him to hone his skills further and compete in the Champions League with Marseille where he has previously played with his old club, Celtic.

“Matt has the opportunity to challenge himself at the highest level in France and in the Champions League,” Hurzeler said.

O’Riley moved to Marseille ahead of Juventus

“We have a lot of competition in the midfield positions, and while we see Matt’s long-term future here with us, this gives him the potential of more game time.

“We will monitor his progress throughout the season with Marseille, and we wish him well for the rest of the season.”

O’Riley was wanted by Juventus earlier this window, as we told you, with the Serie A giants lodging a bid after selling Douglas Luis to Nottingham Forest towards the end of the summer market.

But Marseille arrived on the final day to get a deal over the line quickly.