BRENTFORD NEWS

Brentford signs Wolverhampton's Nathan Collins for club record fee

Nathan Collins became Brentford’s record signing after completing a transfer from Premier League rival Wolverhampton.

JULY 4, 2023

Transfer news: Brentford signs Nathan Collins for club record fee

Nathan Collins has become Brentford’s record signing after completing a transfer from Premier League rival Wolverhampton

JULY 4, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nathan Collins - Moving to Brentford Collins has signed a six-year contract with Brentford after transferring from Wolverhampton, the club announced Tuesday.

Impact Collins kept four clean sheets in 26 Premier League appearances during his lone season with Wolves, and the 22-year-old is now on the move once again as he joins Brentford. He's still yet to reach the benchmark of starting 20 league games in a single season, but he'll hope to lock down a regular spot in the XI at his new club as he competes with Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock, Zanka and Kristoffer Ajer in the center-back positions.

JULY 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Brentford transfer news: Nathan Collins set to become £23m club-record transfer from Wolves The transfer for Collins, who signed for Wolves from Stoke last summer for around £20m, will surpass the £21m fee paid for 21-year-old Germa...

JULY 2, 2023 • SKY.COM

Yehor Yarmoliuk - Promoted to first team Yarmoliuk has signed a five-year contract with the option to add another with Brentford, the club announced Thursday.

Impact Yarmoliuk tallied three goals and two assists in 16 appearances for Brentford's B team last season before suffering an injury, but the 19-year-old has impressed manager Thomas Frank in training this month and has now been promoted to the senior side ahead of the next campaign. He'll likely be a depth option behind Mikkel Damsgaard and Josh Dasilva in attacking midfield.

JUNE 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Yoane Wissa - Appears in every game in 2022-23 Wissa recorded seven goals, three assists, 32 shots (15 on target), 13 chances created, 12 crosses, 17 tackles, 14 clearances and six interceptions across 38 appearances (16 starts...

Impact Wissa recorded seven goals across 30 appearances in his Premier League debut last season, and while he couldn't top that mark this time, at least he found a way to appear in every single game of the campaign. Knowing Ivan Toney will be suspended to start the 2023-24 season -- and for the foreseeable future -- it seems Wissa might be in line for a more prominent role in the opening months of the upcoming campaign.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mads Roerslev Rasmussen - Record career-high 32 clearances Roerslev recorded 32 clearances, 22 tackles, nine interceptions, five blocked shots, five clean sheets, three shots (one on target), eight chances created and 20 crosses (five accu...

Impact A versatile player who can cover several positions on the defensive line, Roerslev nearly replicated the numbers of last season when he also made 12 starts but across 21 appearances. Given the team has Aaron Hickey and Rico Henry as the starting wing-backs, Roerslev seems destined for another campaign as a backup in 2023-24.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

David Raya - Ever-present between posts Raya conceded 46 goals, made 154 saves, registered 20 clearances and kept 12 clean sheets across 38 starts during the 2022-23 season.

Impact Raya started every game for the Bees during their Premier League campaign and was impressive, earning the right to be named one of the team's top performers alongside the likes of Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo and Mathias Jensen. Raya has been linked with a move elsewhere in the summer, but if he chooses to stay with the team, then he'd have to battle with newly-signed Mark Flekken for the starting role.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ethan Pinnock - Makes 30 starts in 2022-23 Pinnock recorded three goals, 15 shots (nine on target), eight chances created, 10 crosses (three accurate), 214 clearances, 52 tackles, 35 interceptions, 31 blocked shots and 10 c...

Impact Pinnock made at least 30 starts for the second consecutive campaign, but this was his best season from a statistical perspective, recording a career-best three goals while also averaging a whopping 7.1 clearances per game. A regular starter for the Bees in each of his four years with the club, Pinnock should maintain that role by the time the 2023-24 season starts.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Frank Onyeka - Delivers two assists in 2022-23 Onyeka recorded two assists, nine shots (four on target), seven chances created, 20 tackles, 16 clearances, 10 interceptions and three blocked shots across 21 appearances (eight st...

Impact The Nigeria international logged 12 starts during Brentford's debut in the Premier League last season, but he had a reduced role in this past campaign despite playing more than 50 percent of the games. Onyeka can certainly hold his own as a defensive midfielder in the Premier League, but he seems set for another season as a backup with The Bees given the team's depth in the position.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ben Mee - Makes 37 starts in 2022-23 Mee recorded three goals, one assist, 28 shots (seven on target), seven chances created, seven crosses, 116 clearances, 48 interceptions, 45 tackles, 42 blocked shots and 12 clean...

Impact Mee tied his best scoring season and was a regular presence at the back for Brentford, with his lone absence coming on Oct. 23 during a 4-0 road loss at Aston Villa. Plus, he went the full 90 in all but three of his league appearances. A reliable presence at the back, Mee should remain a starting center-back for The Bees next season regardless if the club adds another player at the position or not.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Bryan Mbeumo - Impressive season in 2022-23 Mbeumo recorded nine goals, eight assists, 71 shots (33 on target), 51 chances created, 156 crosses (41 accurate), 71 corners, 26 tackles, 17 clearances and 13 interceptions across...

Impact Ivan Toney grabbed most of the headlines after an impressive season that saw him finish as one of the top scorers in the Premier League before his suspension, but Mbeumo was his perfect partner upfront, regardless if Brentford decided to play with two or three upfront. The Cameroon international finished the campaign as the team leader in assists and was also second in goals. He should be in line for an even more prominent role to start the 2023-24 campaign knowing that Toney will be unavailable for the foreseeable future.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Zanka - Makes 11 starts in 2022-23 Zanka recorded 39 clearances, 17 tackles, 16 interceptions, 12 blocked shots, five shots (one on target) and three chances created across 18 appearances (11 starts) during the 2022...

Impact Zanka recorded just eight appearances during the 2021-22 campaign, but he saw more time in the past season due to the injuries of several defenders, most notably Aaron Hickey and Kristoffer Ajer. Zanka can be a reliable depth piece on the defensive line, but he's expected to remain a bench alternative for the 2023-24 campaign, and he could even see fewer minutes if Brentford sign another defender during the upcoming transfer window.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mathias Jensen - Shines in 2022-23 campaign Jensen recorded five goals, six assists, 23 shots (seven on target), 48 chances created, 158 crosses (53 accurate), 76 corners, 71 tackles, 32 interceptions, 23 clearances, five bl...

Impact Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo and David Raya were among the best players for Brentford during the 2022-23 season, but it would be unfair not to include Jensen in that group, either. He started all but one match while being in the top-three in both goals and assists for the club. The Denmark international also started all three matches for his country in the 2022 World Cup, and he should remain a pivotal player for the Bees next season, as he's only 27 years old and entering his prime.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Vitaly Janelt - Scores three goals in 2022-23 Janelt recorded three goals, one assist, 14 shots (five on target), 16 chances created, 22 crosses (eight accurate), 54 tackles, 29 interceptions, 23 clearances and nine blocked sh...

Impact Janelt played as a holding midfielder but had the freedom to roam forward if the opportunity presented itself, and he finished the campaign as a productive player on both sides of the ball for the Bees. He's been a regular starter for the team in each of his three campaigns with the club, and that is not expected to change in 2023-24, either.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Aaron Hickey - Sees heavy minutes in EPL debut Hickey registered 26 appearances (23 starts) during the 2022-23 season and finished with one assist, 11 shots (two on target), six chances created, 27 crosses (four accurate), 39 t...

Impact Hickey joined Brentford after a strong season with Bologna in the 2021-22 Serie A season, and he showed flashes of brilliance in his first EPL campaign, though he also missed nearly four months of action due to an ankle injury that sidelined him from early October until early February. If he's able to stay healthy throughout the entire season, then Hickey should be a regular starter for Brentford on the right side of the defense in the 2023-24 campaign.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rico Henry - Regular starter all season long Henry made 37 starts during the 2022-23 Premier League season, racking up two assists, 22 shots (four on target), 23 chances created, 87 crosses (24 accurate), 57 tackles, 30 inter...

Impact Regardless if manager Thomas Frank decided to play with three, four or five at the back, Henry was a regular starter on the left side of the defense, and the only game he missed was a Jan. 14 tilt against Bournemouth due to a calf strain. He's made 71 starts across The Bees' two Premier League campaigns and is widely expected to remain as the club's starting left-back for next season -- unless a bigger team decides to knock the door for his services.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pelenda Da Silva - Scores four goals in 2022-23 Dasilva scored four goals and delivered two assists in 36 appearances (14 starts) during the 2022-23 season. He finished the campaign with 18 shots (six on target), 12 chances crea...

Impact Dasilva tried to leave his mark on both ends of the field, but there's no question he was far more productive on the attacking end, and he finished the season as the club's fifth-leading scorer in the Premier League. This was also a bounce-back season for the former Arsenal prospect, as he made just nine appearances (two starts) in 2021-22. The potential additions over the summer will dictate which role Dasilva will have next season. Still, in the worst-case scenario, he's expected to remain a bench alternative for the Bees, as he has proven he can play at the Premier League level.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mikkel Damsgaard - Fails to score in debut EPL season Damsgaard didn't register a single goal or assist across 26 appearances (nine starts) for Brentford during the 2022-23 season. He racked up 12 shots (six on target), 11 chances cre...

Impact The Denmark international struggled to make an impact in his first season with the Bees after a 2021-22 season where he also failed to score while playing for Sampdoria in the Serie A. The young attacking midfielder has loads of potential, but he didn't take advantage of his chances throughout the year. He's likely to have a backup role during the 2023-24 campaign, especially considering Brentford will likely strengthen their attacking depth during the summer transfer window.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mads Bech Sorensen - Plays 19 minutes all season Sorensen made four bench appearances in the 2022-23 season and logged 19 total minutes, racking up one interception and one clearance.

Impact Sorensen spent the first half of the season on loan at Nice and the second half with the Bees, but he barely saw action and endured a smaller role compared to the one he had during the 2021-22 campaign. He was a regular starter when Brentford secured promotion to the Premier League, but he's made just 15 appearances in the subsequent two seasons with the club, and he doesn't figure to play a bigger role in the upcoming campaign as well.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Shandon Baptiste - Plays backup role in 2022-23 Baptiste recorded one assist, four shots (one on target), 10 chances created, 11 crosses (four accurate), 15 tackles, 10 clearances, seven interceptions and two blocked shots acros...

Impact Baptiste has been a backup alternative in midfield for the Bees in their last two Premier League campaigns, logging 45 appearances but only 13 starts during that span. The end product has been minimal as a central midfielder who rarely pushes forward, and more of the same can be expected from Baptiste next season -- if he stays with the club.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kristoffer Ajer - Rarely used in 2022-23 Ajer recorded 17 clearances, 11 tackles, seven interceptions, five blocked shots, six crosses (one accurate) and two clean sheets across nine appearances (all starts) during the 20...

Impact Ajer dealt with hamstring, knee and calf issues throughout the season, and that was the only reason why he only registered nine Premier League appearances with the Bees. He was healthier during the 2021-22 campaign and that translated to 24 appearances (23 starts) in league play. Brentford have decent depth at center-back, but Ajer would certainly provide a boost if healthy during the upcoming campaign.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Brentford director: Raya 'within his rights to explore options' Brentford technical director Lee Dykes said that in-demand goalkeeper David Raya is “well within his rights to explore his options”. Raya, 2...

JUNE 12, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Kevin Schade - Completes Brentford move Schade has signed a five-year deal with Brentford after joining on loan from Freiburg in the second half of last season.

Impact This was always going to be the case for Schade unless Thomas Frank didn't like what he saw from the 21 year old. Instead of getting by on bench appearances, Schade managed seven starts from 18 appearances in the second half of the season, though he failed to hit the back of the net in league play. With Ivan Toney suspended until the year end of the year, Schade figures to further his playing time in the 2023/24 season.

JUNE 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ivan Toney speaks out on betting ban Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney has spoken out on his eight-month ban from football. In his first public interview since learning o...

JUNE 11, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM