Brentford 2026/27 Premier League preview: Bees have plenty of reasons to feel optimistic

Having lost manager Thomas Frank last summer, Brentford were widely tipped to struggle in the Premier League under his replacement Keith Andrews.

However, the Bees defied expectations to finish in ninth place. They were arguably unfortunate to miss out on European qualification.

The test now will be to build on that productive season and mount a sustained bid to finish higher. That will be easier said than done.

Read on as we assess how Brentford will fare in the Premier League this season.

Brentford Premier League fixtures 2026/27

Brentford summer transfers 2026

IN: Jaidon Anthony (Burnley, £17m), Jannik Schuster (Red Bull Salzburg, £16.5m), Callum Wilson (West Ham United, free), Sam Sene-Richardson (Chatham Town, undisclosed), Mamadou Sangare (Lens, undisclosed), Darwin Guagua (Independiente del Valle, undisclosed), Ben Wilson (Glenavon, undisclosed)

OUT: Donal O’Connor (Cork City, £145,000), Ethan Laidlaw (Falkirk, undisclosed), Ryan Trevitt (released), Tony Yogane (Aberdeen, undisclosed), Reiss Nelson (Arsenal, end of loan), Michael Olkigbe (WSG Tirol, loan), Ethan Brierley (Huddersfield Town, undisclosed), Romelle Donovan (Sheffield United, loan), Frank Onyeka (Coventry City, undisclosed), Matt Cox (Barnet, loan), Jordan Henderson (released), Aidan Stokes (New York Red Bulls), Julian Eyestone (Rotherham United, loan), Iwan Morgan (Grimsby Town, undisclosed), Benjamin Arthur (Portsmouth, loan), Conor McManus (Gillingham, undisclosed)

(Information correct on August 20).

Brentford Premier League season 2026/27 preview

Brentford shrugged off the loss of several key players and their manager last summer by narrowly missing out on qualification for the Europa Conference League.

They have plenty of reasons to feel optimistic heading into this season, having strengthened their squad during the summer transfer window.

Their standout signing is Malian midfielder Mamadou Sangare from RC Lens, who has been backed to use this move as a stepping stone to bigger things in the future.

Tom Saintfiet handed Sangare his international debut in September 2024. He believes that his ‘multifunctional qualities’ will be a big hit in the Premier League.

“When he has the ball, he is very confident,” he said. “He is able to find solutions very fast under pressure, to give good passes, both short and long. He’s much more than only someone who can recover a ball, in my eyes.

“Put him in Barcelona’s team, and he will have an important role in such a team – because of his style of playing. He is confident on the ball – he is very smart in his passing.

“Even if he is strong in ball recovery, he combines that with so many other skills, which is so important in modern football.

“Sangare is starting to be on a real top level now. Brentford is a good step – they have always shown in the past to have an eye for talented players who are maybe less known in England.

“But for me, knowing Mamadou Sangare, Brentford is not his final destination. He can reach the top in England.”

With Igor Thiago and Michael Kayode signing new long-term contracts and the club strengthening their squad, a top ten finish should be the minimum aim this season.

However, the impressive 7-0 pre-season victory over Eintracht Frankfurt has inevitably sparked talk about the Bees being genuine contenders for European qualification.

This adds a layer of pressure that has not previously been in play at the club. It will be intriguing to see how the players and manager handle those expectations.

Read more: Premier League 2026/27 season preview.