Analysis: What new signing Antoni Milambo will bring to Brentford's midfield | OneFootball

Brentford fans haven't had to wait long for the first signing of the Keith Andrews era, the Bees clinching the signature of exciting young midfielder Antoni Milambo on a five-year contract.

Most recently on international duty for the Netherlands at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia, where he started the Oranje's 2-1 semi-final defeat to eventual winners England, Milambo arrives from Feyenoord with fantastic pedigree - and some stellar moments to savour.

The youngest debutant in Feyenoord's history, the 20-year-old has been tipped for big things from early in his career and, despite his tender years, Milambo's statistics speak to his talent and clear development potential.

Before we dig into those numbers, let's revisit two eye-catching moments that showcase exactly what Milambo can bring to Brentford... and the calibre of opponents he can outwit!

Although they ply their trade at opposite ends of the pitch, Argentine defender Nicolás Otamendi and French playmaker Antoine Griezmann are both World Cup winners with glittering careers behind them - yet Milambo's highlight reel contains jaw-dropping moments against both players.

At just 18, Milambo turned Griezmann inside out with an audacious turn in Feyenoord's 3-1 home defeat to Atletico Madrid. That moment came in the Champions League group phase, a stage he would light up again the following year when he scored a brace in a 3-0 win over Benfica - the midfielder slamming home his first of the night after an outrageous nutmeg on Otamendi.

The quality to produce such moments at the highest level, while still a teenager, underlines Milambo's elite skillset and his passing range, athleticism and ability to cause problems in the final third suggest he has the tools to make an impact in the Premier League next season.

Handed his Feyenoord debut by current Liverpool head coach Arne Slot at the tender age of 16 years and 131 days, Milambo racked up 60 appearances in total during his time at the Eredivisie club, and scored eight goals and supplied eight assists across all competitions.

Fleet-footed and able to drive forward, predominantly from central areas, Milambo's languid playing style is easy on the eye. But what do his statistics tell us?

Well, if we focus on Milambo's numbers in the Dutch top flight last season, the indications are that Brentford have acquired a technically sound midfielder who can pierce opposition defences with his passing and penetrate in the final third courtesy of his ball-carrying.

Milambo racked up just under 2,000 Eredivisie minutes last term, which ranked him seventh among players aged under 21, and no player in this age group completed more key passes (28) or supplied more assists (6).

Able to escape the attentions of his marker in midfield areas, Milambo ranked among the top 50 players in the Eredivisie for goal-creating actions, with 10, as well as carries into the final third (37th) and tackles won in the attacking third (10).

If you add in 83 progressive passes and 61 passes in the final third, Milambo's statistics tell the tale of an effective link man between midfield and attack, one blessed with the capacity to help Brentford press opponents in their defensive third.

Experienced for his age and with a high ceiling, Milambo fits the mould of a Brentford signing and it will be fascinating to see just how far the young Dutchman's talents can take him in the Premier League.