Analysis: The numbers behind Damsgaard's incredible season | OneFootball

Mikkel Damsgaard is fast establishing himself as one of the Premier League's most creative midfielders and it has been announced that the Denmark international has penned a new deal at Brentford.

Head coach Thomas Frank played a big role in recruiting his compatriot from Serie A side Sampdoria in August 2022, and he has since nurtured the 24-year-old playmaker back to his best, despite fitness issues during his first two years in west London.

The diligence and patience displayed by both Damsgaard and the Bees is now paying dividends, and his form this season has marked him out as one of the most incisive and intelligent passers in the top flight.

The midfield technician's headline statistics clearly revolve around his assists in 2024/25, with only three players in the top flight having laid on more goals than the Dane.

Liverpool's Mo Salah (13), Arsenal's Bukayo Saka (10) and Fulham's Antonee Robinson (nine) are the select trio with more assists than Damsgaard - the Brentford man has seven to his name.

What really jumps out when you delve into Damsgaard's goal contributions is his ability to dissect opposition defences: three of the assists by Brentford's No.24 have come courtesy of through balls (a pass splitting the defence for a team-mate to run on to).

To put this in context, only Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal (five) has more assists from through balls across Europe's top five leagues this season.

Second only to Bryan Mbeumo (43) among Brentford players for key passes, with 33, Damsgaard's ability to make the hard pass look easy has added spark to the Bees' attack this season, and his manager said as much after the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the turn of the year.

"We basically just need to find him - give the best player the ball,” said Frank, who added, “We need to find positions where he can get on the ball to try to create things, either with passes or driving through with the ball.”

That ball-carrying prowess referenced by Frank is another string to Damsgaard's bow and he is, again, second only to Mbeumo for successful dribbles among Brentford players in the Premier League this term, with his dribble success ratio of 52 per cent currently the best in the Bees' squad.

Damsgaard has, himself, admitted that he lost “power and speed" early in his Brentford career due to a form of arthritis, but his displays this season have showcased an impressive physicality that is perhaps best illustrated by his strong defensive stats.

He ranks first among Brentford players for passes blocked (20) in the top flight this term and only Christian Nørgaard (53) has won more tackles in the division than Damsgaard (46) for the Bees.

A player who certainly passes the eye test with his graceful running and astute distribution, Damsgaard’s statistics only serve to underline how well he is playing at the moment - and his new contract is very good news for a Brentford side aiming to push onwards and upwards.