Brentford Sign Mamadou Sangaré From Lens For Club-Record Fee

The 24-year-old arrives from French side RC Lens on a five-year contract that includes a club option for an additional year. While the fee was officially designated as undisclosed by the club, outlets have reported the club-record agreement to be worth around £38.5m ($52m), with other estimates placing the sum at €48m in what marks a record purchase for Brentford.

How Mamadou Sangaré Departed RC Lens for the Premier League

The move caps off a rapid sequence of events that saw Sangaré exit his club’s pre-season preparations in Europe. Days prior to the announcement, the midfielder left RC Lens’s squad while they were in Italy participating in the Como Cup. Although he traveled with the team, he sat out their two matches and bypassed a friendly against Villarreal, instead traveling directly to Paris to finalize his switch to the English top flight.

The transfer marks the end of a single, highly productive campaign in northern France for Sangaré.

Keith Andrews Welcomes the Record Signing to Brentford

“Mamadou is someone that we’ve tracked for quite some time. He’s been on our radar and was a player we were really keen to bring in.”

Keith Andrews

The manager also highlighted the significance of Sangaré’s recent career trajectory, pointing out that last season was a huge season for him following developmental loan spells and consistent high-level performances for a Lens side that finished second in Ligue 1.

International Pedigree and Squad Shuffling in West London

Sangaré brings substantial international experience to his new club. The midfielder has earned 16 senior caps for Mali and represented his country at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

His arrival coincides with restructuring within Brentford’s midfield ranks. The Bees previously agreed to terminate Jordan Henderson’s contract, paving the way for the veteran England midfielder to join Chelsea.