Brentford

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the news that Brentford are set to sign former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson on a free transfer in the upcoming days.

Here are some of your comments:

John: I think it's a perfect fit, the experience he would bring is exactly what is needed to plug the gap left by Norgaard's departure.

George: A ready made leader who can fill the gap left by departing skipper Christian Norgaard and the experienced Ben Mee to keep the ship steady in a time of huge upheaval. This is the kind of signing that reminds fans that the club has the planning and vision to keep us in the Premier League.

Ian: Wow! Henderson will be a good person on the pitch and in the dressing room, in sharing his knowledge and experience with the Brentford youngsters. Welcome Jordan. COYB's.

Magnus: Although not as fast and as good a player as when he was younger, this would still greatly benefit this Brentford side, and balance it. Henderson is a great replacement for Christian Norgaard.

Oliver: Having just lost our captain and most experienced player, I think its wise to bring in a leader, someone whose played at the highest of levels and won everything, to guide this good yet inexperienced squad.

Matt: A bit lukewarm to be honest. Henderson an understandable pragmatic stopgap for Norgaard but not particularly progressive.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford are set to sign Jordan Henderson on a free transfer with the deal formalities expected to be confirmed in the coming days.

The 35-year-old faced considerable interest from top clubs in England and Europe – but Brentford have won the race to sign the former Liverpool skipper.

It is thought that playing in the Premier League will provide Henderson with a platform to stay in Thomas Tuchel's England squad before next summer's World Cup.

The 84-cap England midfielder will help plug the gap vacated by former Bees captain Christian Norgaard, who signed for Arsenal on Thursday, but do you think he is the man for the job?

Let us know your thoughts

Nottingham Forest have had another bid rejected for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, 28. The bid is believed to be even lower than the £25m they previously offered for the Congolese international in January despite the Bees' valuation of £50m. (The Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford captain Christian Norgaard has completed a move to Arsenal after six seasons with the club.

The midfielder made 196 appearances for the Bees, scoring 13 goals.

"On behalf of everyone at Brentford, I'd like to thank Christian for everything he's done for the club over the past six years," said director of football Phil Giles.

"He has been a key player for us, played a big part in helping us retain our Premier League status for the past four years, and has been a fantastic captain over the past couple of seasons.

"He has really earned the opportunity at one of England's biggest clubs through his performances and his personality.

"We wish him well and he will always be welcomed back at Brentford in future."

Brentford are likely to demand £65m for Bryan Mbeumo, having already rejected bids of £55m and £62.5m from Manchester United for the forward. (Mirror), external

The Bees are keeping a close eye on Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, with the 23-year-old attracting significant interest from Premier League rivals Everton, West Ham, Fulham, and Crystal Palace, as well as European sides Porto, Stuttgart, and Bayer Leverkusen. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

The BBC's search to find a new football expert is under way, with 12 content creators competing in Last Pundit Standing to win a role as BBC Sport's next football content creator.

The first two episodes of the show - co-hosted by former Watford captain Troy Deeney and YouTuber and football presenter James Allcott - are available to watch on iPlayer, as well as BBC Sport's YouTube channel and TikTok account, with new episodes every week until 11 August.

The contestants, who were chosen from more than 400 applicants, will be whittled down through a series of tasks staged at iconic football locations as the creators are challenged by some of the biggest names in the game.

Read more about the show here

Watch the first two episodes of Last Pundit Standing now on BBC iPlayer

Image source, Getty Images

Valencia assistant coach Martin Drury will join Mehmet Ali and Neil MacFarlane as Keith Andrews' assistant first-team coaches.

Drury followed Carlos Corberan - whom he previously worked with at West Bromwich Albion - to the La Liga club in January and has spent six months there.

Head coach Keith Andrews said: "We are really pleased to get Martin on board. During the interview process he showed a very high level of competency around coaching.

"He's been on a long journey as a coach and had lots of different experiences, none more so than his most recent job at Valencia.

"I'm really looking forward to integrating Martin into what I see as a really talented coaching staff."

Drury joins Ali, who has spent the last three years as Arsenal Under-21s head coach, and Brentford B head coach MacFarlane who has made the step up to the first team.

Image source, Brentford FC

Brentford has unveiled the club's home kit for the 2025-26 season, as the Bees celebrate 100 years in red and white.

According to Brentford, the shirt is "a modern but nostalgic take on the club's iconic stripes" and "the classic collar inspired by the club's original 1925 kit lace design, connects this season's shirt with their rich heritage".

There is a centenary logo on the back of the shirt and a "red & white 1925 & 2025" detail inside the collar.

Steve Watts, Brentford's marketing services director, added: "This season we chose to mark 100 years of both our trademark stripes and our incredible supporters remaining side by side, through the more challenging times, to the Premier League and an exciting future.

"A commitment to affordable football remains at the heart of Brentford's values. We hope frozen adult prices and reduced junior prices enable as many of our fans as possible to enjoy wearing this shirt, which marks a new era for the club."

What do you make of the new kit?

Choose your verdict here

Image source, Brentford FC

Brentford youngsters Benjamin Arthur and Julian Eyestone have both signed long-term deals with the club, keeping them at Gtech Community Stadium until 2031.

Both players will join Keith Andrews' first-team squad for the upcoming season after impressing in the club's academy system.

Arthur, an athletic midfielder, and Eyestone, a promising goalkeeper, are seen as key parts of Brentford's future as they continue to focus on developing young talent.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has paid an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. On Instagram, Kelleher wrote:

Can't believe I'm writing this right now, and I'm finding it hard to put into words.

I'm absolutely devastated by this news.

All my thoughts and condolences are with Rute and their three beautiful kids and Diogo and Andre's family.

It was such a pleasure to get to know you over these years and to share some special memories on the pitch and even more so off it.

You became one of my closest friends in football. We bonded over all things sports, watching any football match we could find - often your brother Andre's game on your iPad.

I was surprised a lad from Portugal loved sports such as darts, snooker and horse racing so much, and some of my best memories were having a laugh watching them with you.

You were such a fun, genuine, normal down to earth and loving family man and you were always very competitive. I'm gonna miss our pre-match programme quiz.

I feel so blessed and grateful to have seen you on your happiest day, the day of your wedding, and to be able to share in that day with you was special. I'll never forget it.

You were deeply loved by everyone at the club, the city and all over the world.

It's gonna hurt for a long time and I'm gonna miss you so much but I feel so lucky to have got know you and have such a good friend

Love you Diogo.

Watch: Diogo Jota - A Tribute on iPlayer

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews believes Antoni Milambo can be a key player for the Bees after he joined from Feyenoord.

Andrews said the 20-year-old midfielder, who has signed a five-year contract with an option for a further year, will "complement the midfielders we have in the building".

"Antoni has played a lot of football in the last 12 months and really shot to prominence," Andrews said.

"He's had experience in the Eredivisie, Champions League and most recently the Under-21 Euros with the Netherlands."

The Dutchman made 60 appearances for Feyenoord, who finished third in the Eredivisie last season and made it to the knockout stages of the Champions League, before being knocked out by eventual finalists Inter Milan.

"I love the way that Antoni takes the ball and drives - he has the ability to go past players and he's a goal threat," said Andrews. "He will complement the midfielders we have in the building.

"Now it's just a case of getting him used to the intensity and rhythm of the Premier League and our own intensity levels. I am looking forward to working with him."

Brentford's technical director, Lee Dykes added that the club had been following Milambo "for a few years" and that he is a "skilful, forward-thinking player capable of scoring all types of goals".

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on what Keith Andrews must prioritise in his first few moments as Brentford boss.

Here are some of your comments:

Max: Keith Andrews needs to establish a clear structure and make up for the potential losses of Christian Norgaard and Bryan Mbeumo. Keeping hold of Yoane Wissa would be huge for the club.

Charlie: Most of the transfers in and out of the club will be over within the next week or two. Andrews' biggest task is deciding which coaches should come into the club. Only a thought, but if we could get Ben Mee back as a coach, I think it would be a big help to settle things down.

Magnus: The possibility of signing Daizen Maeda from Celtic is exciting, but we need a centre-back as well, now that Mee is gone. I am not very confident with Andrews, but I hope he is looking at options - possibly Jakub Kiwior from Arsenal as a big money signing?

Maureen: I have every faith that Brentford have picked a good man, and I would like more concentration on the defence.

Nick: Let Mbeumo go and use the money to buy Harvey Elliott. He wants to play minutes, and he'd be the first name on our sheet. Plus, we have Caiomhin Kelleher, Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho at the Gtech Community Stadium already.

Pete: First of all, getting some flexibility back into the tactics, three at the back works well when Aaron Hickey and Rico Henry are fit to play against the top sides. We'll need some goals from midfield to replace Bryan, but most of all will be the combination Andrews finds to replace Norgaard. We have struggled badly without him in recent seasons.

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford are closing in on a fourth signing of the summer according to multiple reports, with 20-year-old Antoni Milambo expected to join from Feyenoord in a £17m deal plus add-ons.

The Netherlands Under-21 international played in a variety of positions last season, though predominantly on the right of a midfield three before settling in the middle of that trio from the beginning of April, soon after Robin van Persie became head coach.

Milambo became the youngest player in Feyenoord's history as a 16-year-old in 2021 but it is only in the most recent season that he became a first-team regular. He started nine of Feyenoord's 10 Champions League fixtures, scoring in away wins over Girona and Benfica, and his heat map for 2024-25 shows plenty of involvement in attacking midfield areas.

Regarded as a good ball-carrier, Milambo finished the season with seven goals and seven assists in 42 games. That ranked him joint-first for goal involvements among under-21 players at Dutch top-flight clubs.

Keith Andrews will lead Brentford into the new season and he says he not "fazed" by the role given the journey he's been on to get there.

So what should be the first job or two on his slate? A certain signing? Improving a certain player? Selling someone?

Tell us what the key early tasks are for Andrews here

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford director of football Phil Giles has confirmed captain Christian Norgaard is close to joining Arsenal.

BBC Sport revealed last week that the two Premier League clubs had agreed a fee, believed to be up to £15m inclusive of add-ons, for the Denmark midfielder.

And Giles admits he expects Norgaard to complete his move to the Emirates Stadium.

"We have been in conversations with Arsenal for the last week to 10 days – as it stands it hasn't been completed yet but it is heading in that direction," Giles told BBC Sport.

"If that happens for him then fantastic, he's earned it. He's been a brilliant captain for us. Let's see how that story ends but we are pretty open about that interest there."

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford director of football Phil Giles says the club will only sell Bryan Mbeumo if the "deal is right" and hasn't ruled out the forward staying.

Cameroon international Mbeumo is the subject of serious interest from Manchester United, who have had two offers rejected for the forward - the second of which was worth up to £62.5m.

Mbeumo wants to join United and is understood to have expressed that point of view to the London club.

And speaking to BBC Sport, Giles said: "There's not so much (progress with Mbeumo).

"He had a fantastic season, we expected big interest in him, we have had big interest in him.

"He has his ideas about where he wants to take his career, of course he does – he is well within his rights to do that.

"We are in constant dialogue with him and representatives about that. As it stands at the minute we don't have an agreement in place for him to leave.

"It is not impossible he is still a Brentford player next season if we agree he is going to stay.

"It has to be the right deal for Brentford, any club will tell you that. If it's not right deal why would we do it?

"He is certainly one of our best players, if not our best player, and we need our best players. There's no harm in keeping your best players."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the appointment of Keith Andrews as Brentford's new head coach.

Here are some of your comments:

Alan: A supporter since 1960 and sceptical for much of that time, but I have total faith in the current management structure and ability - so I back this totally. If it doesn't work out they'll have a plan to change.

Ian: Let's all get behind Andrews' new management team. It will be interesting if there are any other internal promotions from the coaching staff. As always, keep the faith and roll on season 2025-26.

Colin: We must give Andrews a chance to show what he can do as the number one. We talk about the great job Thomas Frank did but, honestly, how many people knew anything about him when he joined Brentford and then became head coach? The management at Brentford know what the club needs and requires, and if Andrews fits the bill, who are we to say no?

Gary: Gutted. Total lack of ambition from the club.

J: Change is a risk, and so is not changing. I can't think of any owner or directors of a football club better placed to exploit risk than Brentford's. I am very excited about this season coming. I will miss Frank, Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Norgaard, but there is some incredible talent in our squad, which is designed for the next three to five years. Just watch!

Stephen: Do you honestly think Matthew Benham and Phil Giles would take a punt on Premier League survival by appointing Andrews? The answer is crystal clear. It is now about Keith's relationship with the players and how he can keep the motivation and momentum high after Frank's successful seven-year reign. The have all worked with Andrews for a year. He has seen what works and doesn't work. It is too early to judge.

Image source, Getty Images

Matthew Upson, who played with new Brentford boss Keith Andrews at Brighton in 2013-14 - and under him when the Irishman began his coaching career at MK Dons in 2015 - says he understands why the Bees have promoted him to head coach.

Upson told BBC Sport: "An appointment like this is a rarity and a risk - but it's exciting. It's got everyone talking about it.

"It's a real acceleration of Keith's career, but I know him well and I can understand why he has got this opportunity.

"Following on from Thomas Frank, there is probably going to be a point where the team is going to have a wobble, a dip or a drop-off in results.

"What happens then is going to be interesting, and it comes down to what the expectations are for Keith, really.

"Even Frank has had wobbles in the past, when the team went through really bad spells. It also looks like Bryan Mbeumo is going to go, which is a blow.

"It is a really interesting appointment but, having played with Keith and seen him as a coach - very much in his early days - I can see why he has got this chance.

"As well having good opinions, he is an impressive communicator in how he gets his ideas across. That is a very strong skill that he has, which will help him as a manager.

"If you can get the players on board with you, that is half the battle."

Read more about Andrews' rise to Brentford job