Official | Matt O’Riley returns to Brighton after Marseille loan cut short

Matt O’Riley has returned to Brighton & Hove Albion after his loan spell with Olympique de Marseille was prematurely terminated.

As anticipated in recent days, the Danish international’s move to the Vélodrome, which had been finalised late in the summer transfer window, has been cancelled. While there was no indication a week ago that O’Riley would be leaving Marseille, the situation changed rapidly, leading to an agreement between the two clubs to end the loan.Having joined Marseille on loan last September from Brighton, the Danish international failed to establish himself as an undisputed starter under head coach Roberto De Zerbi. O’Riley made 25 appearances across all competitions for OM, scoring once in Ligue 1, but his involvement was often intermittent amid strong competition in midfield.

The 24-year-old midfielder, who has earned six senior caps for Denmark, had already featured twice for Brighton earlier this season in the Premier League. As a result, O’Riley is ineligible to join a third club for the remainder of the campaign and will now remain with the Seagulls until the end of the season.GFFN | George Boxall