Analysis: How ‘late bloomer’ Nørgaard blossomed into one of the Premier League's most reliable midfielders | OneFootball

Brentford's captain and midfield lynchpin Christian Nørgaard has penned a new two-year deal that will extend his stay at Gtech Community Stadium until the summer of 2027.

Two months after compatriot Mikkel Damsgaard agreed a new contract, the 31-year-old has followed suit and pledged his future to the Bees to end any transfer speculation.

With three goals in 10 Premier League games since the turn of the year, Nørgaard has been prolific of late, but it is his all-round game and influence on his team-mates that have shone through in his six seasons in a Brentford shirt.

The hallmark of a top player is that they improve those around them, and Brentford's skipper possesses this special trait in spades.

As Thomas Frank commented after Nørgaard's dramatic equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Manchester City in January: "We are always better when he is playing."

Now closing in on 200 competitive games for the Bees, Nørgaard has been a central figure since his switch from Serie A side Fiorentina back in 2019 and a player once described by Frank as a "late bloomer" has blossomed into one of the Premier League's most reliable holding midfielders.

Nørgaard notably topped the charts for tackles won in his very first Premier League campaign in 2021/22 and his capacity to shield his backline and help his team transition quickly has seen him become instrumental to the way the Bees play.

Although Brentford were down to the bare bones, Nørgaard finished fifth in the Premier League for interceptions last season and he has been a central figure in the Bees' positive 2024/25 campaign so far: the Dane currently ranked 10th in the division for tackles and interceptions combined (102).

Tellingly, Brentford were winless in their maiden Premier League campaign when Nørgaard was not playing and that has also been the case this season: the Bees unable to bag maximum points on the four occasions they have been without their captain.

Nørgaard's qualities have established him as a starter for Denmark at international level, and his technical ability was underlined by a 94 per cent pass completion rate in the Danes' recent Nations League quarter-final first leg win over Portugal.

As mentioned, Nørgaard 's goal-scoring instincts appear to be sharpening with age and his five strikes in all competitions this season make 2024/25 his most prolific season since he notched five times for Brøndby in 2016/17.

Back in 2022, Thomas Frank said: "Every team has one or two players that are the glue, that make the team tick, or better, just by stepping on the pitch. Nørgaard is one of the players that does that for us."

The same is true today and Nørgaard's new contract provides the Bees with stability, professionalism and leadership both on and off the field as they embark on fresh Premier League adventures.