Keith Andrews explains why Brentford signed Mamadou Sangare as club-record transfer confirmed | OneFootball

Midfielder won Coupe de France with Lens and arrives as Jordan Henderson’s replacement

lauded Mamadou Sangare’s work ethic and humility after Brentford confirmed the club-record signing of the Lens midfielder.

The player moves in a deal worth around €45million (£38.5m), eclipsing the fee laid out for Dango Ouattara last summer. He has signed a five-year deal valid until 2031.

Crystal Palace also considered a move for the Mali international in a bid to reunite him with Pierre Sage, under whose management he won the Coupe de France and finished second in Ligue 1 last season.

Brentford moved quickly to secure his signature, though. He arrives as a replacement for Jordan Henderson after the veteran midfielder left the club as a free agent last month with an eye to joining Chelsea.

“I am eager to begin a new chapter in London,” said Sangare in his unveiling video.

His new head coach Andrews has now explained the move, saying Sangare’s steady development in recent seasons is what caught his eye and those of the club’s scouts.

“Mamadou is someone that we’ve tracked for quite some time,” he explained. “He’s been on our radar and was a player we were really keen to bring in.

“Last season was a huge season for him following a couple of loan spells during which he developed. At Lens, he performed at such a consistently high level for a team that finished second in the league.

Sangare, 24, already has 16 senior international caps to his name and featured at AFCON last summer. He joins a well-established Brentford midfield which already features the likes of Mathias Jensen, Mikkel Damsgaard and Yehor Yarmoliuk.

Signed, sealed, delivered: Mamadou Sangare joins Brentford

Brentford FC

Andrews continued: “He’s a player that adds to a really good midfield that we already have; he also adds qualities that we don’t have. He complements the current midfield.

“From the conversations I’ve had with him, he’s very keen to come here. He’s a humble young man, but he’s equally as determined to succeed in his career.

“He fits everything we want from a Brentford player, on and off the pitch. He’ll be a player that I think will become very, very popular with the fans.”

He will hope to make his debut next week, when Brentford face Rennes in a pre-season friendly at Roazhon Park.