Brentford star Michael Kayode has insisted he has no interest in transfer speculation, as he owes everything to the Bees for where he currently is.
The 22-year-old joined Brentford on loan from Fiorentina in January 2025 and hasn’t looked back since.
In the near year and a half since, he’s established himself as one of the best in the Premier League but also Europe. The €18m Brentford paid to sign him permanently last year looks like a bargain.
He’s also now a fully fledged international, making his debut for Italy in September.
He’s already added three caps to his collection and is likely to add more in the coming weeks. It’s likely he’ll be in their squad during the next international break as well.
Brentford convinced quickly
It’s been a rapid rise for him since that original move to Brentford. And he admits that he owes everything to the Bees.
“If I hadn’t played for Brentford, I wouldn’t have made it to the national team,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I have to thank my teammates, the staff, and everyone around me. Brentford is a fantastic club—they welcomed me in an incredible way from the moment I arrived.
“I owe everything to them—including this opportunity to play for the national team.”
He was convinced about their greatness from the day that he arrived in 2025.
“Yes—I thought, ‘I’ve arrived at a truly great club’,” he added.
“They welcomed me in such an incredible way—something I honestly hadn’t expected, especially since I was going through a major life change, coming all the way from Italy.
“Now, I can truly say that Brentford has become like a family to me.”
Transfers dismissed
It is that relationship which means transfer talk is not on the agenda for the full-back. Reports this summer linked him to the likes of Inter Milan and Juventus.
Nothing come of such reports, though. Instead, he signed a new deal in July that ties him to Brentford until 2032. That was a sign of faith, but Kayode also insists he thinks the smartest move.
“I had already decided to stay and sign an extension before the season even ended,” he admitted.
“For my development, I believe that staying here and being with this group—just as I’ve done—is crucial. In fact, it has led to great things, such as a call-up to the national team.”
