Brentford have completed the signing of Mali midfielder Mamadou Sangare from Lens for a club-record €45m (£39m), making the 24-year-old the most expensive player in the London club’s history.
The Premier League club confirmed the transfer in an official statement, with Sangare’s fee surpassing the previous record set by Dango Ouattara, who joined Brentford for €43m last summer.
The deal comes during an exceptional period of spending in the Premier League, with several clubs committing record sums to strengthen their squads during the current summer transfer window.
Sangare, who was born in Bamako in 2002, arrives at Brentford after an outstanding season with Lens. He played a central role as the French side finished second in Ligue 1 and won the Coupe de France.
During his first campaign in France, the midfielder scored three goals and provided four assists in 33 appearances. His performances established him as one of Lens’ most important players and led to a major increase in his value within the space of a year.
Pierre Sage, Sangare’s former manager at Lens and current Crystal Palace head coach, highlighted the qualities that have made the Mali international such an attractive signing.
“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 praised his maturity and his willingness to take responsibility in possession.
“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,” Sarr said.
Despite his age, Sangare has already built a varied professional career. He left Mali for Austria in 2020 to join Salzburg before Rapid Wien took a chance on him for €1.7m.
Lens then invested €13m in the midfielder last summer. His move to Brentford represents a rise of more than three times that figure after only one season in France.
Brentford’s decision to spend so heavily reflects their desire to continue progressing in an increasingly competitive Premier League. The club are also preparing for a possible midfield vacancy caused by Jordan Henderson’s expected move to Chelsea.
The transfer is part of a wider spending surge across the division. Eight Premier League clubs have broken their own transfer records during the current summer window, led by Chelsea’s €138m signing of Morgan Rogers.
Manchester City have spent €135m on Elliot Anderson, while Tottenham have paid €108m for Sandro Tonali. Against that backdrop, Brentford’s investment in Sangare represents both a statement of ambition and a clear attempt to maintain their growth at the highest level of English football.
