Having completed his move from Club Brugge, striker Igor Thiago is determined to make his mark in the Premier League.

Thiago has been handed Brentford's no.9 shirt, with fellow forward Kevin Schade taking no.7.

“I'm very happy to have signed for Brentford and to get to know the club,” he said.

“It’s an immense source of happiness for me, to be able to play for this club in the Premier League. I'm really looking forward to this moment.

“And I know, I'm sure of it, that it will be a great journey and a great season.”

Thiago notched 18 goals in 34 Jupiler Pro League outings last season as Club Brugge won the title in what was his second full season in Europe, after scoring 15 in 32 in Bulgaria’s First League with Ludogorets.

As well as those 18 league goals, he also grabbed four in the cup and notched seven times in Europe in a stellar first campaign that saw him named Conference League Young Player of the Season.

“I'm always looking for more,” the 22-year-old continued. “I think that throughout my career, since I left Brazil, I think that's what I was looking for, to gain good energy, win titles, make a name for myself, make history.

“So, I think it was great things that I was able to do there in Brugge. To help my team-mates win that title that was so important.

“It was a lot of work, a lot of dedication, especially from Brugge, for everyone having believed in me when I wasn't in such a good situation.

“With a lot of work, dedication and commitment, good times will come.”

Celebrate the arrival of Brentford’s new forward with ‘Thiago 9’ now available for shirt printing on our 2023/25 home shirt at the Bees Superstore and online

Thiago's route into football was a difficult and unconventional one.

Born in Gama, Brazil, the loss of his father at a very young age meant he had to work to help support his mother.

Growing up, in fact, Thiago's brother was the footballer of the family and his first break at Gremio Ocidental only came about because his sibling played for them.

Despite the time he spent in his first club's academy, Thiago seemed unlikely to make the grade until Vere FC, who compete at regional level in Parana, took a chance on him.

Thiago seized the opportunity and subsequently caught the eye of Cruzeiro. After 10 goals in 64 games in all competitions for Cruzeiro, he was sold to Ludogorets in Bulgaria and it was in Europe that his career really took off.

“When I was 13 years old, my father passed away,” Thiago recalled.

“I started to work at the fair carrying fruit. I also worked as a bricklayer. I had several jobs when I was younger, before I got into professional football and got the opportunity to play abroad.

“It helped me as a man, and it helped me as person. It helped me to appreciate the little and big things in life, because today I look at my life and see that I'm privileged with everything I have.”

Following such an impressive campaign with Club Brugge, Thiago arrives in west London with confidence and momentum on his side.

“I'm ready to be in the Premier League because of the moves I've made in my career,” he insisted.

“I think everyone here can expect a lot from me as a player, as an athlete, and that I will always want to win.

“I'm very happy and very pleased to be the first Brazilian here in Brentford. I think showing a little of the culture, Brazilian football and Brazilian energy within the club, is going to be very important.

“They'll get to know a little of this Brazilian flair, this Brazilian football with will, with determination and good energy. I always dream, because I think the most important thing in an athlete's life is to always dream.”

On what he’ll bring to Brentford’s frontline, Thiago added: "I'm the kind of player who puts on pressure, intensity. I always want to be pressing, to help my team in the best way I can on the pitch.

“I want to help my team on the pitch with pressure; help my team-mates to hold on to the ball and score lots of goals.

“I think that's the most important thing: the goals. But I want to help positively with the pressure, help my mates with whatever I have to help them with. I want to make history here at Brentford.”