MATT O’RILEY has pledged his immediate future to Celtic by signing a four-year deal today.
The announcement comes just 24 hours after the news Reo Hatate had also agreed a contract extension as Brendan Rodgers continues to consolidate the backbone of his squad.
O’Riley becomes the EIGHTH Bhoy to sign on in recent times following skipper Callum McGregor, Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Liel Abada, Anthony Ralston, Stephen Welsh and, of course, Hatate.
The 22-year-old playmaker, who signed in a bargain £1.5million switch from English third-tier MK Dons in January 2022, said: “It’s probably hard to put it into a short sentence, but I think everybody knows how much I enjoy playing here, especially at Celtic Park because I don’t think you get that anywhere else.
HAPPY BHOY…Matt O’Riley is on the crest of a wave as he signs on until 2027. Image courtesy Celtic TV.
“I’ve said before that I’m just really grateful to be a part of a club like this and, hopefully, we can achieve more good things together.
“I can’t express how much I enjoy playing my football here, genuinely. It’s really nice to feel part of a family of football.
“I think that’s quite rare, in terms of everything we do on and off the pitch, in terms of community work and charities etc. I think it’s unique and to be a part of that is special.”
The London-born former Danish Under-21 international, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “I think it’s important going into training every day really enjoying the company of your team-mates, being able to have a laugh and being able to push each other, as well.
“If you’ve got a good relationship off the pitch, it naturally makes it easier to demand high standards from each other, and right now I think we’ve got a real good balance of youth and experience.
“I’m still pretty young, but I’m probably in the middle of that because we’ve got a young team, but that dynamic and balance is really helpful.”
O’Riley is poised to make his 81st appearance for the Hoops in today’s 12.30pm kick-off against Motherwell at Fir park.
The smooth midfielder has notched four goals this term – and 12 in total – since his arrival when he hit the ground running in his new career at the champions.
