Brentford’s Director of Football, Phil Giles, has shed light on the reasons behind Frank Onyeka’s loan transfer to FC Augsburg in the German Bundesliga. The move occurred during a busy summer transfer window, during which Brentford added new players, sold some, and arranged loan deals to ensure certain players received regular game time.
One such player is Nigeria international Frank Onyeka, whose departure was driven by his desire for more consistent playing time, according to Giles. He explained that while Onyeka had been an integral part of the squad, the midfielder sought a more prominent starting role.
“Frank is a different case from other exits. He played a lot of minutes for us—26 appearances last season—so letting him go is a bit of a risk without an obvious replacement,” said Giles. “But I’m confident we have players who can step in and take those minutes, and it’s important for their development.”
Onyeka, who joined Brentford from Danish club Midtjylland in 2021, has made 78 appearances for the Bees. However, his role diminished last season, with only 13 starts in 28 matches. Brentford head coach, Thomas Frank, echoed Giles’ views, noting that Onyeka’s move to Augsburg aligns with the player’s wish to be a regular starter.
“Frank wants to play week in, week out as a starter; this is a good opportunity for him to do that. He has been a big part of our success, and I can’t praise him enough for that in every aspect,” said Frank.
The loan deal with Augsburg does not include an option to buy, as Onyeka still has three years left on his Brentford contract, with the club holding an option to extend for an additional year. While Giles acknowledged the risk of letting Onyeka leave without a direct replacement, he expressed confidence in the team’s depth and the importance of supporting player development.
Brentford’s summer transfer window saw several new arrivals, including Igor Thiago, Fábio Carvalho, and Sepp van den Berg, while Ivan Toney departed for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli. Despite a leaner squad, the club remains optimistic as they approach the 2024/25 Premier League season, having secured two wins in their first three games.
