Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers experienced a significant loss in the recent transfer window when Matt O’Riley departed for Brighton & Hove Albion. The Premier League club reportedly paid a Scottish transfer record fee of over £25 million for the Danish international. O’Riley’s stellar 2023/24 season, where he contributed 18 goals and 13 assists in the Scottish Premiership, made him a highly sought-after player.
Rodgers, no stranger to losing top talents at Celtic, also oversaw Moussa Dembélé’s exit during his first stint in charge. In 2018, the French striker moved to Lyon for a reported £20 million, after a highly successful spell at Celtic, where he netted 32 goals in his debut season. Although Dembélé’s form dipped slightly in his second campaign, he still left Glasgow with an impressive record.
Since then, Dembélé’s market value has dropped significantly, now estimated at €12 million (£10 million), despite his productive time at Lyon, where he amassed 70 goals and 19 assists in 172 appearances. He eventually left Lyon for Saudi club Al-Ettifaq on a free transfer in 2023, following a difficult final season in Ligue 1. Despite Lyon never cashing in on him for more than what they paid, his time at Celtic remains a memorable chapter for both the player and the club.
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