Brentford must complete Michail Antonio deal after confirmed news
Brentford have to make a big call regarding Michail Antonio after a new development emerged about him joining the club.
Michail Antonio became a cult-hero at West Ham over the last 10 years, with 83 goals scored and a key role played in their 2023 Europa Conference League triumph.
West Ham struggled to compete in the Premier League last term, and Antonio was a big miss in their squad following a car crash in December that saw him suffer a broken leg.
He only returned to training in the summer, and West Ham decided against handing Antonio a new contract after he was officially released in June, but he has continued to play for their Under-21 side in recent months.
Free agent Antonio has previously been tipped to join Leeds, but he has now been spotted training with Brentford, and the Bees’ next step could not be more obvious with all factors considered.
Brentford have to hand Antonio a short-term deal as he trains with Keith Andrews’ squad
London Evening Standard reporter Sam Tabuteau has reported, via X, that Antonio is training with Brentford to keep fit as he lives locally to the club, but there are currently no plans to offer him a full-time contract.
The Bees’ concerns are understandable, considering the tough 2025 that he has had and potential doubts around his fitness going forward, but signing Antonio on a short-term, low-wage deal seems like a complete no-brainer based off his experience and the club’s Premier League plight.
Antonio’s past form and stellar experience at the top level is a standout among any current free agents on the market, and it is clear that he still believes he has a lot to give considering how he has battled back to fitness in recent months despite nearly losing his life in the December 2024 crash.
The Jamaican international netted double figures in three consecutive Premier League seasons between 2019 and 2022, and his 268 top-flight career appearances are only bettered by Jordan Henderson in Keith Andrews’ squad right now.
His nous in front of goal would add a different dimension to Andrews’ current crop of strikers, which is lacking in depth with Igor Thiago the only recognised number nine at his disposal, while his aggressive, physical style of play would match the way they like to set up.
It’s not as if Antonio is awash with options right now, and so Brentford would likely be able to offer a cut-price deal for him to accept just so he can prove his quality in the Premier League once again.
The Bees currently sit 16th with just two wins from their first seven league games, so clearly need all the help they can get, and they must go back on their current plans and write up a contract to offer Antonio over the international break.
Antonio has said that he wants to play at the top level and Brentford move would be ideal for him
From Antonio’s point of view, a move to Brentford would surely be one that he jumps at if he is given the chance to sign, especially with his current aims of being at the World Cup with Jamaica next year.
In an interview with talkSPORT in August, the 35-year-old insisted that he does feel like he is finished in football just yet, as he said: “100 per cent [it’s an aim to play in the US in 2026]. That’s one thing I’ve not managed to achieve for myself, to be playing in the World Cup, and Jamaica are very close to it.
“I just wouldn’t want my career to come to an end by a car crash, literally, so I’ve got something to prove to show that I can come back, I can come back and play well, which I was doing for the last ten years.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 323 | 83 | 42 |
“Even before I did the car crash, I was starting for West Ham, so it shows that I’ve still got the ability about me and I can do it again. I’m very good, I’m very happy, I’m very content with where I am.
“I’m just going to wait for my football club to come in, and then I’ll start showing everybody that I’m not just good in my mind, I’m not just good physically, I’m good on the pitch.”
Now that he has been given an opportunity to show what he can do at an established Premier League side, it feels like Antonio will only have one thing on his mind, and that is to earn a contract with the West London outfit.