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Published 22:01 1 Aug 2026 BST
Updated 19:41 1 Aug 2026 BST

Brentford have signed Mali midfielder Mamadou Sangare from French side Lens for a club record fee, the Premier League club confirmed on Saturday. The 24-year-old has signed a five-year contract, with the option of a further year, as head coach Keith Andrews strengthens his midfield ahead of the new campaign.
Brentford did not disclose the figure, but said it surpasses the £42.5m paid to sign Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth last summer, making the central midfielder the most expensive arrival in the club’s history. Sangare made 33 appearances for Lens last season, helping them finish second in Ligue 1 and win the Coupe de France for the first time, and has 16 caps for Mali after featuring at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. His arrival is one of the more eye-catching deals of the new Premier League season.
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. At Lens, he performed at such a consistently high level for a team that finished second in the league. He fits everything we want from a Brentford player, on and off the pitch. He’ll be a player that I think will become very, very popular with the fans.
As BBC Sport reported, Sangare began his career at Red Bull Salzburg before loan spells and a move to Rapid Vienna via Hartberg. He is expected to go straight into contention as Brentford prepare for the new season.
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