Brentford sign veteran striker Callum Wilson on a free transfer

Brentford have completed the signing of striker Callum Wilson on a free transfer following his departure from West Ham United, with the 34 year old putting pen to paper on a one year contract

Wilson arrives in west London after a season with the Hammers, where he scored seven goals and registered one assist in 35 appearances across all competitions last term, only 12 of them starts.

At this stage of his career, and on a one year deal, Wilson is not being brought in to lead the line every week. He looks set to serve as an experienced option behind Igor Thiago, giving Keith Andrews a proven Premier League finisher to call on when his first choice needs relief or the game needs changing. Just as important is the role around younger forwards like Kaye Furo, where Wilson offers over a decade of top flight know-how.

Andrews made that thinking clear. ‘Callum is someone that everyone will be familiar with; he has been a Premier League goalscorer for such a long time,’ the head coach said. ‘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. This is another really good signing for us.’

The nous is well earned. Wilson came through at hometown club Coventry City, making his senior debut at 17 before establishing himself with 22 goals in 2013/14, a campaign that earned him a place in the League One PFA Team of the Year.

A move to Bournemouth followed in 2014, where he scored 67 goals across six seasons, fired the Cherries to the Premier League and marked his arrival in the top flight with a hat-trick against West Ham on just his third appearance. At Newcastle, where he moved in 2020, he managed a career-best 18 league goals in 2022/23, won the EFL Cup in 2025 and earned a place in England’s 2022 World Cup squad, one of nine caps that have brought him two goals.

For Brentford, it is a low-risk addition that strengthens the squad without stretching the wage bill: a finisher who still knows where the goal is, and an experienced head for a young forward line to learn from.

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