Nigeria international Benjamin Fredrick has set his sights on making his Premier League debut for Brentford after signing a new four-year contract and earning promotion to the Bees’ first-team squad.
“My aim is to make my debut with the first team, get Premier League minutes and give my best when I have the opportunity,” the 21-year-old defender said, while reflecting on his ambitions for the season ahead.
“I just want to keep pushing and learning every single day.”
Fredrick, who has linked up with Keith Andrews’ squad during pre-season, signed his new deal, which includes a club option for a further year, after impressing during his time with Brentford’s B team. He described the achievement as a proud moment for himself and his family. “It is a great feeling. I am happy and proud of myself, and my family are proud of me as well,” he said.
“The club has helped me a lot. When I came here, I was a little bit nervous and shy. I did not know how to do the basics because where I am from is a little bit different to here. Especially Neil (MacFarlane) when I first came here. He always encouraged me, never shouted when I made mistakes and just told me to keep my head down and keep playing. He has helped me grow as a player and a person as well.”
Head coach Andrews said the club see plenty of potential in the young defender saying, “We are delighted that Benji has signed a new deal and is going to be part of the group this season, because we see a lot of potential in him and where we can bring his game to.
“He has already played senior international football and was a big part of Nigeria’s team in their World Cup qualifying campaign. Last season, he had a really productive loan in Belgium that was unfortunately cut short due to injury. The first port of call for Benji is to integrate into the squad consistently. His last game was the middle of November, so that is a long time he has had out through injury. He has then got to come into the first-team space, challenge his team-mates and show the ability and the personality which I know he has.”
A product of Simoiben Football Academy in his hometown of Kaduna, Fredrick spent the 2021/22 season at Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC before moving to Nasarawa United in Nigeria’s top flight, where he featured at centre-back and right-back while also representing his country at the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria finished third.
He joined Brentford B on loan in August 2023 and, after an impressive first season under Neil MacFarlane that saw him named on the bench for two Premier League games and two FA Cup ties, the move was made permanent in April 2024. He continued to progress in 2024/25, featuring in two more Premier League matchday squads and playing a key role as the young Bees reached the Premier League Cup final and won the Under-21 Professional Development League national title. In May 2025, Fredrick was named Brentford B Players’ Player of the Year and later made his senior international debut for Nigeria in a penalty shoot-out victory over Jamaica in the Unity Cup final at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The defender spent last season on loan at FCV Dender, making 15 appearances across the Belgian Pro League and Croky Cup before a knee injury cut his spell short. During the September, October and November international breaks, Fredrick started the final four matches of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, as well as the Super Eagles’ win over Gabon in the African play-off semi-final, before Nigeria were beaten by the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the final.
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