Brentford’s Bold Move: Antoni Milambo Becomes the Andrews Era’s First Statement Signing
Brentford haven’t wasted any time under Keith Andrews. The club has landed Dutch midfielder Antoni Milambo from Feyenoord for an initial £17 million, with add-ons possibly pushing the deal to £21.25 million—making it one of the club’s biggest investments in recent memory. Milambo is only 20, but he’s already proving himself as the kind of talent Brentford haven’t seen in their midfield for a while.
So, who is Antoni Milambo? The Rotterdam native came up through Feyenoord’s academy and broke into the senior squad while still a teenager. Last season alone, he clocked 42 appearances, playing both as a central engine and further upfield when his team needed a spark. He contributed to seven goals and assists—and that’s not even counting his three strikes in the Champions League, which turned plenty of heads outside the Netherlands.
The timing of this signing is no accident. Brentford’s midfield is about to be shaken up, with captain Christian Norgaard set to join Arsenal for £10 million and Bryan Mbeumo reportedly packing his bags for a move to Manchester United. With those exits looming, bringing in someone with Milambo’s versatility is more than just smart business: it’s a necessary step if Brentford want to stay competitive in the Premier League.
Why Milambo Fits Brentford’s Ambitions Under Andrews
Negotiations for the Brentford target started back in April—long before the club’s managerial merry-go-round kicked off. Even after Thomas Frank made his own jump to Tottenham, Brentford pushed forward, clearly determined to land Milambo. The midfielder is now awaiting his medical and final contract talks, with everything set in motion for him to join up before preseason.
Milambo’s style is tailor-made for Brentford’s ambitions. He’s comfortable dropping deep to pick up the ball or carrying it into dangerous areas, and his experience with the Netherlands Under-21s (where they made it to the European Championship semifinals) means he’s no stranger to high-pressure scenarios. The club sees him as the creative heart around which Keith Andrews can rebuild, putting faith in a younger, more dynamic squad that echoes the very DNA of Brentford’s identity.
The fee might seem hefty for someone with only a handful of full senior seasons under his belt, but Brentford’s recruitment team are betting on his trajectory. This is a club known for taking calculated risks—like when they gave Norgaard a platform, or when Ivan Toney arrived from Peterborough and turned out to be a revelation. Milambo’s signing is more of the same, signaling a new direction and heavy investment in players who can grow with the club.
Fans will be watching closely to see how Milambo adapts to the pace and physicality of English football. If his record at Feyenoord and his poise on big stages is anything to go by, though, Brentford may have just landed one of the summer’s most intriguing signings.
