Brentford have signed England forward, Callum Wilson on a free transfer from London rivals, West Ham.
Wilson left the Hammers on 30 June following their relegation from the Premier League in a campaign in which he scored seven goals and created one assist in 35 appearances across all competitions.
Brentford consequently swooped for the 34 year-old striker on a one-year contract until June 2027, with Head Coach – Keith Andrews confident that Wilson brings experience to benefit Igor Thiago and Kaye Furo.
“Callum is someone that everyone will be familiar with; he has been a Premier League goalscorer for such a long time.
“He gives us more options in that area of the pitch, and will help Igor Thiago and Kaye Furo with the experience that he has.
“He’s just got that nous to score goals, as well as that experience around the training ground.”
Wilson is “delighted” to make the move across London as he praised Andrews for his ambitions with the Bees and the ability to ensure that the feel and unity of the team remained after the Irish manager succeeded Thomas Frank at the helm of the club last summer.
“I spoke with the manager. We had a good conversation and he was very enthusiastic. He told me about his ambition for the club and what his ambitions and desires are, and I felt like I could add quality to that.
“Having watched and played against Brentford many times, I liked the feel and togetherness of the squad. I thought I could see myself being a part of it.
“They were good games and Brentford played really well. I liked the way that the midfielders played and everybody was playing forward early. As a striker, you know you’re going to get many opportunities, which is fantastic.”
Thiago scored 25 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions last season and Wilson is now relishing the chance to learn and challenge the Brazilian to new heights in the Bees’ push for European qualification – having missed out on the final day last season.
“Many people in my position as a striker, off the back of Thiago having a fantastic season, would probably shy away from the challenge of joining the club. For me, it’s about coming and sharing the load, helping out as a striking department and also adding my qualities as well.
“We’re different strikers, but sometimes I’m guessing we’ll play together as well, so it’ll be nice to be part of it and help the team climb up the league. The club were so close to Europe last year and, this year, hopefully, we can get over the line.”
Wilson also iterated that he will adapt to fit into the squad’s unity as part of his attempts to help his new teammates push on in their developments, whilst personally chasing 100 Premier League goals given that he has currently scored 95 goals in England’s top-flight in his career.
I’m here to push, compete and, like I say, it’s about being a striking unit and department. It’s not, ‘you and me’, it’s togetherness, and there are other strikers in the building as well. If we all perform and push each other, we can help the team push forward, and that’s the key really.
“Strikers don’t score 20-plus goals for no reason; there’s obviously service behind that and team-mates who are looking for you. There are going to be opportunities.
“I don’t shy away from the fact that I’m five goals away from 100, so I feel like five chances are going to come pretty quickly here and it’ll be a great opportunity to achieve that.”
“There’s a fantastic squad and a fantastic manager, the club is already doing great things, I’m just coming to add my qualities, help the club go up the league and hopefully get over the line.”
Wilson also revealed that he spoke to fellow England international, Jordan Henderson who “sung the praises” of Brentford, and is excited to reunite with ex Bournemouth teammate – Jaidon Anthony after the winger joined from Burnley on Tuesday 7 July.
“Jaidon Anthony just joined as well and I played with him at Bournemouth. There’s some familiar faces there and, like I say, these are players you’ve played against many times before.
“There is unbelievable quality in the dressing room, and I’ve met people today who are all very welcoming. You do get that family feel here so, like I say, I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Wilson began his career at Coventry with 23 goals in 55 appearances between 2009 – 14 amidst loan spells at Kettering Town and Tamworth, across which he scored three goals in 20 combined appearances across the latter clubs.
He went on to spend six seasons at Bournemouth in which he scored 67 goals in 187 appearances in which he helped them claim promotion to the Premier League in 2015 as Championship champions, before he left after their relegation to the Championship in 2020.
A five-year spell at Newcastle followed with 49 goals in 130 appearances and was part of the squad which claimed Newcastle’s first domestic title since 1955, as the Magpies won the 2024-25 Carabao Cup.
Between 2018 – 23, Wilson made nine senior appearances for England at international level in which he scored two match-clinching goals, with his first goal coming in a 3-0 friendly win over USA in November 2018 then in a 4-0 victory away to Malta in a UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifier in June 2023.
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