Dasilva given new Brentford contract and is targeting return

Brentford have given Josh Dasilva a contract until the end of the season – and he could return to action after next month’s international break.

The midfielder, 27, has endured an injury-plagued two years and has had three operations since suffering a serious knee injury in February 2024.

His contract expired during the summer but he has remained at the club to complete his rehabilitation

“It’s been a long journey, but I can’t thank the club enough for giving me this opportunity,” Dasilva said.

“I don’t know how many clubs would have given a player this opportunity to carry on.

“It’s been hard, but I’m very thankful for it, and I just can’t wait to be out there enjoying my football with the boys and putting on the shirt again.

“I did my ACL, MCL and meniscus in early February 2024, and then I had to have another operation six months later, and then another operation eight months later. This is why it’s been a minute since I’ve been on the pitch.

“Right now, I’m just doing rehab outside, doing ball work and running. I’ve been doing that for quite a few weeks now, so hopefully, within the next month or so, I can start training with the team.

“I try not to look too far ahead because I’ve got today and tomorrow to focus on. I’m just taking every milestone as it comes.”

Dasilva, signed in 2018 after leaving Arsenal, has not played since January last year. Prior to that he had been out for five months.

But the club have always remained hopeful that he would be able to re-establish himself.

Head coach Keith Andrews said: “I’ve been keen to get this done and had discussions with (director of football) Phil Giles around it, stressing the importance of Josh to the group.

“He’s someone that I’ve involved a lot around the next chapter of where we’re going with the club and the steps we need to make.

“Josh is someone who really understands Brentford Football Club and he’s a really intelligent young man who cares about the club – I don’t think we should forget that.

“But, ultimately, we want to get him back on the grass because, if we get him back to the level he was at, he’s going to be a major asset for us.”