Matt O'Riley latest guest on Official BHAFC Podcast

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Midfielder discussed career to date on latest episode.

Charlie Hanson

2024-11-12T07:00+00:00

Matt O'Riley celebrates scoring his first Premier League goal to put us 2-1 up against Manchester City. 📷 by Simon Roe.

Matt O’Riley is the latest guest on the Official Brighton & Hove Albion Podcast.

Saturday’s goalscoring hero against Manchester City had a number of interesting tales to tell, including how he turned down a four-year deal with Fulham as a teenager before his parents paid part of his transfer fee so he could join MK Dons.

You can listen to the full interview here.

“I got offered a contract at Fulham when I was 19, it was a decent contract – a four year deal," the 23-year-old explained. "I was lucky enough to have been around the first team since I was about 16 so I'd got quite a good feel of the environment and also my level and where I sat within it.

“Even when I was 18 I thought I was ready to contribute and help the team. But it’s tough as a young player coming through the academy because naturally there's other players who get bought for big money, so there's more incentive to play them.

Matt O'Riley marked his Premier League debut with the winning goal. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

“I feel for all young players at clubs because I know what it's like. I just felt I wasn't going to play and to be fair to [Fulham manager] Scott Parker, he was really honest with me.

“He basically said he saw me as a number six and I naturally prefer playing as an eight. I think I'm more suited to it, but can happily do a six as well.

“But there were four or five number sixes and he said I was below the rest in the pecking order. So I just thought it was best to go elsewhere. It was actually really helpful that he was honest because if he wasn't I might not have made that decision.”

To listen to the full episode and check out our chats with other guests, please click here.