Why this was Brentford’s best transfer window for seven years

Journalist and lifelong Brentford fan Ian Westbook knows a thing or two about impactful Bees signings. And he believes this summer’s transfer window was their best since key signings revolutionised the club seven years ago. 

Brentford’s summer transfer window of 2019 is widely acknowledged as being one of the most transformative in the club’s recent history.

This year’s window – chaotic for several other clubs – has a similar feel to it. Here’s why.

After five seasons of top-half finishes in the Championship, the club decided to really make a concerted promotion push in 2019/20.

That summer, Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Norgaard, David Raya, Mathias Jensen and Ethan Pinnock all arrived, along with the surprise statement signing of Pontus Jansson from Leeds.

Those six players went on to make more than 1,200 appearances for the club between them – Jensen, of course, is still at the club – and played key roles in us reaching two consecutive Championship play-off finals and then establishing ourselves in the Premier League.

While fewer players have come in this time around, their arrivals have the same feel about them.

And what is equally important is that for the first time in four summers, no major players have left the club – meaning the new arrivals have joined a very settled squad, many of whom are on long-term contracts.

Mamadou Sangare so far looks like a special player who, if he continues his sparkling early-season form, will have the vultures sniffing at the door before too long.

We have also finally solved the years-old problem of not having an experienced back-up striker.

For way too long we have relied on having one main forward. Scott Hogan, Neal Maupay, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney all played week in, week out with no proper alternative on the bench.

But the signing of Callum Wilson – someone who seems to be perfectly happy to be a substitute each week but who can come on and influence games and score vital goals – solves that problem and can give Igor Thiago a break late in matches.

As for the rest, Jaidon Anthony, Jannik Schuster and El Hadji Malick Diouf are all quality players who strengthen different areas of the pitch, giving us incredible strength in depth, even when we pick up some injuries.

Having come within goal difference of qualifying for Europe last season, you get the feeling the club are determined to go one better this time around.

Could the impact of the summer of 2026 equal that of 2019? Ask me at the end of May!