Explore the latest developments concerning Brentford’s striker succession.
Brentford’s striker succession planning is a lesson for all Premier League clubs
Igor Thiago pictured during Brentford's recent 4-2 win away at Everton, a game in which he scored a hat-trick Alex Livesey/Getty Images
A little over a mile from Brentford’s Gtech Stadium, just the other side of Kew Bridge, is Kew Gardens. The botanical and mycological (fungi) garden there is the most diverse worldwide.
What exists fundamentally as a place of protection and cultivation for various plant species — many of which are endangered — is, functionally, exactly what Brentford have done with strikers over the past eight years. They have been the breeding ground for No 9s to thrive.
The latest example is Igor Thiago. The 24-year-old, who joined in July 2024 from Club Brugge for an initial €33million (a record transfer for the club), netted a hat-trick in Brentford’s recent 4-2 away win over Everton.
How Igor Thiago Has Filled the Void Left by Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa
Igor Thiago had to hit
the ground running this season if Brentford
were going to have any success, and he has done just that. What
makes the Brazilian such a force for the Bees?
Igor
Thiago has been in second place in the Premier
League scoring charts for most of the season, but some might
have slightly dismissed his achievement.
Five of his goals have been penalties, at least two more than
any other player, and while executing a spot-kick successfully is
not to be sniffed at, some do see them as ‘easy’ goals.
However, Thiago recorded his first Premier League hat-trick in
Brentford’s 4-2 win at Everton on Sunday, with all three goals
coming from open play. Not that he needed to prove anything, but
perhaps now everyone will sit up and take notice of the talented
Brazilian.
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From bricklayer to star: Brazilian shaking up the Premier League
The fans cheer for him and embrace him. Everyone wants to celebrate goals with Igor Thiago, that's clear. That the Brentford fans would celebrate him as they did in the 4-2 victory against Everton last weekend, he probably wouldn't have thought before the season.
In the summer of 2025, there was talk around FC Brentford of a possible transfer flop. The Premier League club had paid 33 million euros (source: transfermarkt.de) to FC Brugge in 2024 – a sum that seemed far too high, especially after the first year.
This was mainly due to the injuries that kept setting Thiago back. The Brazilian played only 169 minutes in eight games, without a single goal involvement. In January 2026, the world looks very different for him – and for Brentford.
For more detailed information, explore updates concerning Brentford’s striker succession.