Brentford Begin Post-Thomas Frank Era With Survival the Priority | OneFootball

The 2025/26 Premier League season ushers in a new era for Brentford after Thomas Frank left the club in the summer.

Frank shaped the most successful era in the club’s modern history, steering the Bees into the top flight for the first time and establishing them as a stable Premier League side.

Last season was Brentford’s second-best in England’s elite division as they finished 10th, only five points adrift of eighth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion.

Whether they can secure another mid-table finish remains uncertain, especially following several high-profile departures, including Frank’s switch to Tottenham Hotspur.

New boss Keith Andrews faces an uphill task to maintain Frank’s legacy and keep the London outfit clear of the relegation battle.

Read on as we preview the Brentford season for 2025/26.

Brentford Fixtures

Brentford visit Nottingham Forest on the opening Premier League weekend.

The first home fixture under Andrews pits them against Aston Villa in round two, while they travel to newly promoted Sunderland on the eve of September’s international break.

Those matches should serve to prepare the Bees for a ruthless post-international break schedule, which kicks off with a London derby against Chelsea at the Gtech Community Stadium.

After Chelsea’s visit, Andrews’ men take on Fulham (A), Manchester United (H), Manchester City (H), West Ham United (A) and Liverpool (H) in quick succession.

November will be less intense, though consecutive away London derbies against Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur will set the tone for a hectic December schedule.

Brentford entertain Bournemouth at home on Boxing Day and conclude the calendar year with a return fixture against Spurs.

They commence 2026 at Everton’s new stadium.

While the start of the new year looks relatively quiet on paper, things could get messy down the final stretch when they meet Man Utd (A), West Ham (H), Man City (A), Crystal Palace (H) and Liverpool (A).

Manager

It will be intriguing to see how Brentford will respond to Frank’s exit.

He laid the foundation for the club’s modern success, relying on data-driven recruitment and a relentless commitment to discipline.

Appointing Andrews may have been a shot in the dark from the Bees’ perspective, and it leaves plenty of question marks over how the team will fare in his debut season.

Brentford have taken a giant risk with this move, considering the former defensive midfielder has no experience in senior management.

He worked as Karl Robinson’s assistant manager at Milton Keynes Dons and was part of Chris Wilder’s backroom staff at Sheffield United.

That, combined with a brief stint as assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland under Stephen Kenny, served to help Andrews gain experience.

However, stepping into a Premier League hot seat is an entirely different challenge, especially given the size of the shoes has has to fill at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Transfers

There have been massive personnel changes at Brentford during the summer.

After a long-running transfer saga, star forward Bryan Mbeumo has joined Man Utd in a £71 million deal, leaving Brentford after six years.

Defensive midfielder Christian Norgaard has moved to Arsenal for a reported £10m fee, while first-choice goalkeeper Mark Flekken signed for Bayer Leverkusen.

Mbeumo’s exit has left a sizeable hole in attack, and the Bees can only hope that Antoni Milambo has what it takes to fill the vacancy following his £16m arrival from Feyenoord.

Caoimhin Kelleher has joined the club from Liverpool for £12.5m to replace Flekken.

It’s also worth noting that Brentford have turned Michael Kayode’s loan move from Fiorentina permanent and signed veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson on a Bosman deal.

They have cut ties with Josh Dasilva and Ben Mee, who left as free agents.

Starting XI

Based on Brentford’s pre-season friendlies, Andrews appears set to deploy a 4-4-1-1 formation.

Kelleher has been impressive during off-season preparations and will likely be the first choice between the sticks.

On the flanks, Kayode has nailed down the right-back position as his own, with Rico Henry set to operate on the other side.

Kristoffer Ajer and captain Nathan Collins are the likeliest centre-back pairing, with long-serving stalwart Ethan Pinnock relegated to the bench.

Despite Henderson’s arrival, Yehor Yarmolyuk and Mathias Jensen remain the favourites to start as the two central midfielders.

Keane Lewis-Potter fared outstandingly on the left in 2024/25 and seems poised to continue there. With Mbeumo gone, it’ll be up to Milambo to fill the void on the right wing.

Mikkel Damsgaard has been the creative force of this team and should have a guaranteed starting berth.

Yoane Wissa will probably lead the line unless he leaves the club towards the end of the summer amid intense speculation linking him with a move to Newcastle United.

Wissa’s potential departure would force Brentford to sign a new striker, considering Igor Thiago remains the only remaining senior option for the role.

(4-4-1-1): Kelleher; Henry, Ajer, Collins, Kayode; Jensen, Yarmolyuk, Milambo, Lewis-Potter; Damsgaard; Wissa.

Star Player

Mbeumo was Brentford’s top scorer last season, but Wissa’s offensive contribution was just as vital.

With 19 goals, he was the club’s second-best scorer and a key factor in the Bees’ attacking threat throughout the campaign.

The 28-year-old was thriving in Frank’s system, with his pace and directness often unsettling opposing defences.

However, it’s uncertain how he will adjust to the managerial change and a new set-up.

Only one thing is clear. If Brentford are to fight for another mid-table finish, they’ll need Wissa at his best.

Prediction

With everything that has happened during the summer, Brentford would likely sign up for another 10th-place finish before the season kicks off.

However, it could prove easier said than done.

The Bees finished above Man Utd and Tottenham in the league table last term, and it will take something special to replicate that achievement in 2025/26.

The Bees’ worst finish since gaining Premier League promotion in 2022 was 16th, and they may only go one better this season.

Predicted finish: 15th.

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Read Next: Our full Premier League 2025/26 preview (with links to all individual Premier League team previews).