Premier League club Brentford have agreed a deal with French Cup winners Lens to sign Malian defender Mamadou Sangare this summer, with a move expected to be finalized in the coming days.
The Bees had been searching for a long-term replacement for England midfielder Jordan Henderson, who left the club to join Chelsea earlier in the week and quickly identified Sangare as their ideal option to bolster their squad.
They were also keen on continuing their push for an European place next season, after coming very close in the 2025-26 season before missing out on the final few matchdays.
Sangare only joined Lens last summer, but was an important player for the club and featured 33 times across all competitions. He also played in the French Cup final in May as Lens won the competition for a first time, defeating Nice 3-1 in that clash.
Brentford will now pay a fee worth up to €48 million to sign the exciting young midfielder, making him their fifth addition ahead of next season.
Transfer fee and contract details
Brentford have now agreed a new club record deal to sign Sangare from Lens. The fee is worth up to €48 million and surpasses the amount they paid to sign Burkinabe forward Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth last summer.
The French club will retain a percentage of any future transfer, while Sangare’s former club Rapid Wien will receive a 12.5% sell-on share on the transfer to Brentford.
Sangare will also sign a five-year deal that keeps him at the Gtech Community Stadium until 2032.
Four clubs Mamadou Sangare could join amid potential summer exit from Lens
The Bees saw off intense competition from Crystal Palace, who have appointed his former manager Pierre Sage and were also keen on his signature.
Salary details
Per Capology, Sangare earned about €48,077 per week and €2.5 million annually.
The 24-year-old is expected to receive a significant increase in pay once his move to the Premier League is finalized after completing his medical and other formalities.
From Northern France to West London
Sangare joined Lens last summer after an impressive form at Rapid Wien, and he continued his trajectory with another brilliant stint at the French club.
View this post on Instagram
The 24-year-old now has huge boots to fill at the Premier League club and will be hoping his skillset help him adapt quickly to play a major role for Brentford in the coming years.
