Brentford and Palace Battle for Out-of-Contract Tottenham Midfielder Bissouma

Brentford and Crystal Palace are both weighing up moves for free-agent Yves Bissouma after his departure from Tottenham Hotspur, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The experienced Mali international midfielder is available on a free transfer after Spurs decided not to extend his stay following a turbulent final season in North London. 

Despite helping the club preserve their Premier League status on the final day of a dramatic campaign, Bissouma was one of several players released as Spurs began reshaping their squad ahead of the new season.

Now the 29-year-old finds himself in demand once again, with both Brentford and Palace keen to snap up one of the most experienced midfielders currently available on the market.

Bissouma represents an attractive proposition for clubs looking to strengthen without spending heavily. 

The former Brighton and Tottenham star has amassed almost 300 senior appearances during his professional career and boasts an impressive 202 Premier League outings.

EXPERIENCE

That wealth of experience has placed him firmly on Brentford's radar, with the Bees viewing him as a cost-effective option capable of adding quality, leadership and top-flight know-how to their midfield. 

Palace are also monitoring the situation closely as they look to bolster their squad ahead of another demanding Premier League campaign and with new manager Pierre Sage at the helm following Oliver Glasner's departure.

Bissouma first established himself as one of the division's standout midfielders during four excellent seasons at Brighton & Hove Albion, who are also reportedly exploring a reunion with the midfielder. 

His performances on the south coast earned him a move to Tottenham in 2022, where he would spend the next four years of his career.

He went on to make more than 110 appearances for Spurs and played a key role in one of the club's greatest recent achievements. 

In 2025, Bissouma completed the full 90 minutes as Tottenham defeated Manchester United in the Europa League final to lift European silverware.

However, his final year at the club proved far more difficult. 

The midfielder was suspended by former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou during the 2024/25 season after footage emerged of him inhaling laughing gas, an incident that damaged his standing at the club.

PROBLEMS

Further problems followed under new boss Thomas Frank. Bissouma was left out of Tottenham's UEFA Super Cup squad against Paris Saint-Germain for disciplinary reasons and was later omitted from the club's Champions League squad after reportedly arriving late to training on several occasions.

His season quickly stalled. The midfielder did not make his first appearance of the campaign until January 2026 against West Ham United and ultimately finished the season with only 11 appearances.

Despite those setbacks, there is little doubt over his ability. With eight seasons of Premier League football split between Brighton and Tottenham, Bissouma remains a proven performer at the highest level. 

Brentford and Palace both believe that, on a free transfer, he could prove to be one of the smartest pieces of business completed this summer.