Theo Mawene makes Brentford move | Mawene's first interview as a Bee
Theo Mawene has spoken about his move to Brentford B from Sky Bet Championship side Preston North End.
Mawene put pen to paper on a long-term deal with the young Bees, with the 17-year-old making the permanent move to west London.
“It’s amazing, it’s something that’s new for me. I’m really excited and really looking forward to it,” said Mawene.
“The club seems elite, I know they’ve been on quite a journey for the last few years, they’ve done some amazing things, they’ve accomplished quite a lot, and it looks like a really well-built, well-rounded club.
“I'm really looking forward to it, trying to improve, trying to get better, seeing where it takes me, and what I can do here.”
"I'm really looking forward to it, trying to improve, trying to get better, seeing where it takes me, and what I can do here"
It has been a whirlwind past two seasons for Mawene, as he found himself in and around the first-team setup at the Lilywhites.
He made his senior debut for the club at the age of 16, substituted on alongside his brother Noah in a loss to Leicester City in the 2023/24 season, making him the seventh-youngest player to debut for Preston.
A famous name at Preston, Mawene and Noah carried on the family legacy left by father Youl, who played 174 games for the Lilywhites, with the two becoming the first brothers to play for the club since 1985.
“I was playing grassroots until I was 13 or 14. I signed for Preston as a young kid,” explained Mawene.
“The past two years of my scholarship have been a really amazing time for me, I’ve learnt quite a lot. This move is something special for me.
“My debut was a dream come true, that’s something that I’ll tell the kids about one day, hopefully! It was amazing, that’s something that I dreamed of every weekend playing grassroots in our little home town.
“It was a really special moment and a massive thank you to the gaffer [Preston head coach Ryan Lowe] for doing that for us because he didn’t have to.”
"My debut was a dream come true, that’s something that I’ll tell my kids about one day, hopefully! It was amazing"
Mawene was included in Preston’s matchday squad regularly across the 2024/25 season, coming on during the side’s FA Cup loss to Aston Villa.
He said he had taken lessons from that first team experience that he wanted to bring to west London, including lessons from Jayden Meghoma, who joined the Lilywhites on loan from Brentford this past season.
“Speaking with a lot of the players, whether they’re older or on the younger side, they’ve really taught me quite a lot about what it takes to be a footballer, but also what it takes to make a life out of it,” said Mawene.
“I’m really grateful to them, they’ve taught me a lot about what it takes to be a footballer, how to be professional on and off the pitch, and just stay humble.
“I spoke to [Meghoma] while he was there, he just seemed like a really nice guy, got along with him quite well, really funny.
“At the end of the day, he’s a good footballer as well, so there’s a lot I can take from him.”
Mawene impressed for Preston’s Under-18s and Under-21s this past season, the midfielder playing an important role in the sides’ respective FA Youth Cup and Premier League Cup campaigns.
His solo strike against Liverpool in an FA Youth Cup third-round win was a highlight, with the 17-year-old also picking up an assist in the young Lilywhites' fourth-round loss to Manchester United.
On the goal against the Reds, he reveals: “I wasn’t really thinking, to be honest, I’ve spoken about it quite a bit, but I can’t really remember too much about the goal!
“I just remember running off and celebrating after it and having the best time with the rest of the team.
“'Spur of the moment' is the perfect phrase to be honest, because I’m not really thinking once the goal goes in! I don’t really think too much about it, so I don’t think I’ve got a celebration at the minute.”
Looking ahead to 2025/26, Mawene said he was excited to show fans at Gtech Community Stadium and Wheatsheaf Park what he can do.
“I'm really excited, I can’t wait. I’ve had a look around the place a couple of times, it’s the place you want to be,” he said.
“I like to be exciting, I like to play my style of football: one-v-ones, dribbling with the ball, and being positive.”