Brentford huge £400m revelation unveiled amid West Ham takeover news

Brentford Football Club is looking to attract £400 million of investment into the club in a blockbuster announcement made on Wednesday afternoon.

The West London outfit is one of the Premier League's biggest success stories in recent seasons and Sky News has today confirmed that owner Matthew Benham is looking to sell a stake in the club. Brentford has said that the move is 'essential' for the club's development.

Sky reports that Benham, who initially invested in the Bees back in 2007, has hired Rothschild to oversee the process. It is expected that the club will draw interest from US-based investors.

Brentford has risen from League Two to the Premier League since Benham arrived at the club. The team has also moved from Griffin Park into the swanky new Gtech Community Stadium recently as they establish themselves as Premier League mainstays.

Benham is believed to be 'open-minded' as to selling either a minority or majority shareholding in the club. Sky quote an 'insider' who is sure that the owner wants to stay involved in the project in at least a minority stakeholder format.

The news comes as Rothschild also advises West Ham United on a 10% stake sale. Last October, West Ham United Joint-Chair Vanessa Gold said: “I would consider selling a proportion of our shares to the right partner. I have spoken to each of the other three major shareholders at West Ham United, David Sullivan, Daniel Křetínský and Tripp Smith, who have been very supportive.

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“Any transaction to purchase some of our shares will be with my father’s legacy at the forefront of my mind which, of course, prioritises his beloved West Ham United. I have appointed Rothschild & Co to advise us on any discussions and will keep the other shareholders, the Club and our supporters updated on any significant developments.”

Brentford refused to comment on Rothschild's appointment but reissued a statement given Bloomberg News in December. That read: "Given the recent rise and growth of our club and the changing shareholder landscape within the Premier League, it's no surprise that there has been interest in investment opportunities at Brentford FC.

"While Matthew Benham's commitment to the club remains as strong as it ever was, it is only natural, and perhaps even essential, for us to carefully explore what new investment could potentially mean for the future of Brentford FC.

"We must not stand still and we remain absolutely determined to safeguard the long-term future of Brentford FC and to remain competitive in the world's most challenging and successful league."