Brentford sign Mikkel Damsgaard for £11.8m from Sampdoria on a five-year contract

Brentford have completed the signing of attacking midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard from Serie A side Sampdoria and make his debut against Manchester United at the weekend.

The 22-year-old has completed his medical and was announced as the Premier League side's newest recruit in a move worth £11.8 million with a further £5m in add-ons.

Damsgaard has signed a five-year deal with Thomas Frank's side as he joins his fellow countryman in London and could make his bow in English football in Saturday's Premier League clash against Erik ten Hag's side.

The move had initially been delayed amid talks over a clause to reduce the players salary were the club to suffer relegation from the Premier League. However that stumbling block has now been resolved.

Damsgaard is likely to slot in as a workable replacement for playmaker Christian Eriksen, who snubbed Brentford in favour of Erik ten Hag's Man United following his six-month spell at the club last campaign.

Eriksen is set for a speedy return to the Brentford Community Stadium next Saturday when United travel to London to face the Bees.

The Dane is no stranger to London having scored on his last visit to the capital as he scored against England with a stunning free-kick in the Euro 2020 semi-final.

However his career has somewhat stalled since that career highlight moment with a move to Italy hampered by injuries with Damsgaard undergoing knee surgery after it was discovered he had an unusual form of arthritis.

The attacker made just 11 league appearances with Sampdoria last season.

New club Brentford finished 13th in the Premier League last campaign and kicked off this season with a 2-2 draw against Leicester.

Two second-half goals from Ivan Toney and Josh Dasilva rescued a point for the Bees, after Thomas Frank's side went 2-0 down shortly after half-time.