Brentford make Mamadou Sangare the most expensive player in their history

Brentford have completed the signing of Mali midfielder Mamadou Sangare from Lens for a club-record €45m, making the 24-year-old the latest major arrival during an unprecedented summer of spending in the Premier League.

The London club confirmed the deal in an official statement, with Sangare’s transfer surpassing the previous Brentford record set by Dango Ouattara. The former player moved to the club last summer for €43m.

Sangare was born in Bamako in 2002 and joins Brentford after an outstanding campaign with Lens. He played a key role as the French side finished second in Ligue 1 and won the French Cup, contributing three goals and four assists in 33 appearances during his first season in France.

His qualities were praised by Pierre Sage, his former manager at Lens and the current manager of Crystal Palace.

“His effectiveness in winning the ball back and moving the game forward is rare these days. He has a very positive relationship with the game, he is a lively player and, as soon as he gets the ball, he wants to play,” Sage said.

Sangare’s former team-mate Malang Sarr also highlighted the midfielder’s maturity and all-round ability.

“From the first training session, all the positive qualities I had heard about him were confirmed. His maturity is truly impressive. He does not hesitate to ask for the ball or pass it, he enjoys the challenges in both directions and he has the ability to create play and finish attacks successfully,” said Sarr.

Despite his age, Sangare has already built a varied professional career. He left Mali for Salzburg in Austria in 2020 before Rapid Vienna invested €1.7m in him. Lens then paid €13m to sign him last summer, meaning his market value has increased by more than three times in the space of a year.

The transfer comes amid a remarkable spending surge across the Premier League. Eight clubs have broken their transfer records during the current summer window, led by Chelsea, who paid €138m for Morgan Rogers. Manchester City have spent €135m on Elliott Anderson, while Tottenham paid €108m for Sandro Tonali.

Brentford see Sangare as a possible solution to an expected vacancy in midfield, with Jordan Henderson set to leave for Chelsea. The club hope the signing will help them maintain their progress and compete at a higher level in a Premier League that becomes more demanding with every season.

The agreement represents a significant financial commitment from Brentford, whose previous record for Ouattara had stood for only one year. Sangare will now be expected to reproduce at club level the qualities that helped Lens enjoy their successful domestic campaign: ball recovery, forward passing, energy and a capacity to contribute at both ends of the pitch.