Capable of creating chances from a variety of positions, Theo Mawene joined the Bees in June 2025.

The young attacking midfielder made the switch to the Bees from Sky Bet Championship side Preston North End after impressing in their youth set up.

At just 16 years old, Mawene made his debut for Preston in the 2023/24 season, substituted on alongside his brother Noah in a loss to Leicester City, making him the seventh-youngest player to debut for the club.

Before joining the Bees, Mawene made one senior appearance for Preston in the 2024/25 season, substituted on during a 3-0 loss to Aston Villa in the FA Cup. His father, Youl Mawene, also made 174 appearances for the Lilywhites.

During Preston’s FA Youth Cup run in the same season, Mawene scored an incredible solo goal against Liverpool in a third-round win, with the 17-year-old also picking up an assist in the young Lilywhites' fourth-round loss to Manchester United.

In the 2025/26 pre season game against Manchester City Under-21s Mawene scored a brilliant long range strike.

He continued on to feature 30 times for Sam Saunders' side across all competitions, playing 1,660 minutes.

Mawene picked up two goals and two assists in his debut season in west London. His most timely strike came abroad against AS Monaco, as he scored midway through the second half to give the Bees a 2-1 lead, eventually going onto win against a aide featuring Paul Pogba and Eric Dier.