Brentford secure club-record £39m Mamadou Sangare signing from RC Lens
The 24-year-old, named in Ligue 1’s Team of the Year, replaces Yves Bissouma in Mali’s squad and is expected to start against Spurs.
Brentford have completed the signing of Mamadou Sangare from French club RC Lens for a club-record fee of £39m. The 24-year-old midfielder arrives in west London after a standout season that saw him help Lens finish second in Ligue 1 and win the French Cup, earning a place in the league’s Team of the Year.
Sangare is expected to make his competitive debut for the Bees in their upcoming Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur. The match is scheduled for Saturday with a 5.30pm kick-off, broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League. The departure of Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma, who was released this summer and remains without a club, opens a pathway for Sangare to establish himself in the starting lineup.
The transfer marks a significant strategic acquisition for Brentford, who secured a player previously linked with several top English clubs. Sangare, who previously played for Rapid Vienna, bypassed opportunities to remain in the Champions League with Lens to join the Premier League side. His arrival follows a period of intense interest from other major European teams, though he ultimately committed his future to the west London outfit.
Mali manager Tom Saintfiet has praised Sangare’s technical versatility, describing him as an intelligent and confident player capable of operating as a No 8 or No 10 rather than a traditional defensive midfielder. Saintfiet highlighted Sangare’s ability to retain possession under pressure and his capacity to provide both short and long-range passes, noting that his skill set would allow him to thrive in high-level environments such as Barcelona.
Early indications of Sangare’s impact have been positive, with the midfielder scoring a long-range strike in Brentford’s 7-0 pre-season victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. He has also opened his account for the Mali national squad, where he was introduced by captain Yves Bissouma. Saintfiet believes Sangare possesses the goal-scoring potential to contribute three to five goals per season, citing his powerful shot and free-kick ability.
While Saintfiet views Brentford as a crucial developmental step, he suggests the club is not Sangare’s final destination, predicting he has the capacity to reach the highest levels of English football. The midfielder’s multifunctional qualities and ball-winning statistics from his time in France position him as a key asset for Brentford’s campaign, which begins against the club he effectively replaces in the Mali national setup.
