Detailed Brentford Season Preview: Insights and Predictions

Everything you need to know about Brentford ahead of their 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

Who have Brentford signed so far in the summer transfer window?

Sepp Van Den Berg from Liverpool - £30 million.

Igor Thiago from Club Brugge - £27.8 million.

Fabio Carvalho from Liverpool - £27.5 million.

Gustavo Nunes from Gremio - £10 million estimated.

Jayden Meghoma from Southampton - £10 million.

Kim Ji-Soo - Promoted from Brentford youth team.

Benjamin Winterbottom - Promoted from Brentford youth team.

Who have Brentford sold in the summer transfer window?

Ivan Toney to Al-Ahli - £40 million.

David Raya to Arsenal - Loan made permanent for £27 million.

Fin Stevens to FC St. Pauli - £600'000.

Thomas Strakosha to AEK Athens - Free Transfer.

Shandon Baptiste to Luton Town - Free transfer.

Zanka Jorgensen to RSC Anderlecht - Free transfer.

Neal Maupay to Everton - End of loan agreement.

Ellery Balcombe to St Mirren - End of loan agreement.

Frank Onyeka to FC Augsburg - Season long loan.

Tristan Crama to Exeter City - Season long loan.

Myles Peart-Harris to Swansea City - Season long loan.

Saman Ghoddos - Contract expired.

Charlie Goode to Stevenage - Free transfer.

Brentford 2024/25 Home Kit

Brentford launch their next two-year kit for 2023/24 and 2024/25, which they'll wear for home games at the Gtech Community Stadium from next season! 🔴⚪

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 4, 2023

Brentford 2024/25 Away and Third Kit

🚨EXCLUSIVE
Brentford have released their new away and third kit for 2024/2025 season.#brentford #Jersey #jersey4sale #PremierLeague #NewJersey #football pic.twitter.com/bmTHMVbYd6

— football_updates (@fotball_updates) July 25, 2024

Who are Brentford playing on the opening day of the season?

Brentford vs Crystal Palace.

The G-Tech Community Stadium.

2pm, Sunday 18th August.

Where can I watch Brentford vs Crystal Palace?

TV coverage on Sky Sports.

What are Brentford's first five fixtures?

• Liverpool vs Brentford - Sunday 25th August.
• Brentford vs Southampton - Saturday 31st August.
• Manchester City vs Brentford - Saturday 14th September.
• Tottenham vs Brentford - Saturday 21st September.

When do Brentford play rivals Fulham in 2024/25?

Fulham vs Brentford - Saturday 2nd November.

Brentford vs Fulham - Sunday 18th May.

Last five results when Brentford have played Fulham:

• 04/05/2024: Brentford 0-0 Fulham.
• 19/08/2023: Fulham 0-3 Brentford.
• 06/03/2023: Brentford 3-2 Fulham.
• 20/08/2022: Fulham 3-2 Brentford.
• 22/07/2020: Brentford 1-2 Fulham (Championship play-off final)

Where did Brentford finish last season?

Finishing 16th with 39 points in the Premier League in 2023/24, it was a distinctly average season for Brentford, who were without their star striker Ivan Toney for much of the season thanks to a gambling ban.

When Toney did eventually return, he was lacking form and fitness, and failed to contribute as often as in days gone by. Nevertheless, the west London club steered well clear of the relegation spots, avoiding 18th placed Luton Town by 13 points, and comfortably consolidated their Premier League place for another season.

In the absence of Toney, Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo more than stepped up to the plate, scoring 12 and 9 goals respectively, while summer signing Mark Flekken lived up to expectations in the Brentford net. January loan signing and Brentford icon Neal Maupay also helped their cause, notching six goals in his half season back with the Bee’s.

However, Brentford on occasion were less than reliable at the back, and if they are to make progress towards becoming an established mid-table club, then some smart business addressing defensive issues will be required over what remains of the summer transfer window.

Best Result: Chelsea 0-2 Brentford. (Pinnock 58’, Mbeumo 90+6’).

Worst Result: Brentford 1-4 Wolves. (Brentford: Wissa 16’. Wolves: Lemina 13’, Hwang 14’, 28’, Bellegarde 79’).

Who is the Brentford manager for the 2024/25 season?

Thomas Frank will once again be the man in the hot seat for Brentford this season. Since arriving at the club in 2016 as an assistant manager, before being appointed head coach in October 2018, Frank has seen both the winning and losing side of the Championship play-off, an excellent debut season in the top flight, and a top half finish the year after, where Brentford finished 9th.

However, seemingly on a downward trajectory after a 16th placed finish last season, the ball is Thomas Frank’s court. Known for his direct method of play and excellent counter-attacking set-up, what he requires is new personnel in multiple areas of the pitch.

The primary puzzle that Frank has to solve this summer is how to replace Ivan Toney, who looks likely to finally get his move to a big club. Having already bought in Club Brugge striker Igor Thiago, he looks set to be the direct replacement for Toney.

However, Frank may want to bring in a cheap alternative option if things with Thiago don’t go to plan …

Who is Brentford’s player to watch? Mikkel Damsgaard

After arriving in August 2022, a year after a fantastic Euro 2021 campaign, Mikkel Damsgaard has flattered to deceive at Brentford. In fairness to him, he rarely gets a start. In the 49 Premier League appearances for the bee’s so far, Damsgaard has only been given a start in 16 of them.

Last season, he showed flashes of his quality off the bench, and chipped in with two assists in those limited minutes, but he is yet to bag his first English top flight goal. England fans will remember well the unbelievable free kick he scored against the Three Lions in the semi-finals of Euro 2021 to give Denmark a surprise lead. I remember thinking at the time “this guy is going places.”

Still only 24 years of age, that statement could still prove to be true, but this is the make or break season for Damsgaard. He needs to impress in training in order to get minutes from the start, then he will finally have the opportunity to show Frank what he can do.

Brentford 2024/25 Season Prediction

One thing you cannot say Brentford lack is character. They show tremendous grit and determination whether they are leading a game or find themselves behind, and you know you will see 100% effort until the final whistle is blown.

This alone is enough to keep them up this season. However, I can see them getting relegated in the next two or three seasons unless they bring in a couple of big names and maybe switch to a more controlling style of play.

They have the players to do it, but these players don’t yet have the confidence to put it into action, as they are so used to the more direct, vertical play that Thomas Frank prefers. With the current squad at their disposal, I can see them finishing in a similar spot to last season, comfortably in the lower mid-table.

Prediction: 15th.