Brentford FC have completed the signing of Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth FC for a reported club-record £42 million fee, add-ons included.
The Burkinabe winger penned a five-year contract with the Bees, with a club option of an additional year. His transfer fee surpasses the previous club-record £30million Brentford paid to sign Igor Thiago last summer. Outtara is viewed as a replacement for Bryan Mbeumo, who departed for Manchester United in July. He will wear the number 19 jersey.
Ouatarra hit top form and was greatly instrumental to Bournemouth’s success last season, netting seven goals and providing four assists across 32 Premier League appearances. His superb form, massive potential, and improved decision-making encouraged Brentford to break the bank on him. The 23-year old has curled the curtain on his two and a half year-long stint with The Cherries. He joined Bournemouth from French Club FC Lorient in January 2023, registering 11 goals and 9 assists in 81 English top-flight appearances for the Cherries.
Left deeply unsatisfied by an inconsistent run of games, fierce competition for spaces, and a desire for a starting spot, he opted to make a swap from the South Coast of England to West London. A trailblazer, Dango Ouattara is the first footballer from Burkina Faso to play for Brentford.
In an interview with Brentford TV, the Ouagadougou-born forward expressed his delight at the move.
“I’m happy to stay in the Premier League, the best championship in the world. I’m very happy to be here.” “It’s a good day today for me and my family. I want to keep pushing to play well and to do a good season”. “I’m very proud to represent my country, represent my family. I want to win a lot of games. The fans can trust me, I can do my best.”
Brentford head coach Keith Andrews raved about his new signing, saying, “We’re really happy to get Dango in. He’s someone that we were aware and surprised could be available and, once we knew that signing him might be a possibility, we really focused on trying to get him in.”
“He has something that we were lacking in the forward line, and he will complement what we already have in the building. “The fans will love him; he’s the type of player that they will get off their seat for.”
A Burkinabe international, Outtara made his senior international debut for the Burkina Faso National Team in 2022. His maiden international goal against Tunisia helped them book a spot in the semifinals of AFCON 2021, where they succumbed to eventual Champions Senegal. He has scored 10 goals across 30 appearances for The Stallions.
Primarily a left winger, Ouattara is versatile and capable of playing across the front lines and even as a left back. Blessed with pace and power, he has blossomed into a decisive player, although he still has room for improvement. He is expected to debut for Brentford against Aston Villa at the Gtech Community Stadium this Saturday.
