Founded in 1889 by members of the Brentford Rowing Club in west London, the club spent much of its early history in the lower divisions. They enjoyed a brief spell in the First Division during the 1930s but endured decades of struggle thereafter, dropping as low as League Two (the fourth tier) in 2008-09.

The turning point came in 2012 when Matthew Benham, a professional gambler and founder of data analytics firm Smartodds, became owner. Benham applied baseball's "Moneyball" philosophy to football, introducing data-driven scouting and player development. The club built a model of identifying undervalued talent, developing players, and selling them on for significant profit. In 2021, Brentford won the Championship playoff final to secure promotion to the top flight for the first time in 74 years.

Since then, the club has established itself as a Premier League regular despite its modest resources. Their success is widely regarded as a landmark example of football's data revolution.

Brentford's operational philosophy draws heavily from the "Moneyball" approach pioneered by the Oakland Athletics in Major League Baseball. By screening over 85,000 players through data analysis, the club identifies talent whose market value lags behind their actual performance potential.

Notable examples include Ollie Watkins (sold to Aston Villa), Said Benrahma (West Ham), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), and Neal Maupay (Everton), all acquired cheaply and sold at significant profit. The club notably downsized its traditional scouting department in favour of expanding its data analytics team, a move that raised eyebrows but proved remarkably effective.

In summer 2025, Thomas Frank departed for Tottenham after seven years in charge. His long-time assistant Keith Andrews was promoted to the top job and has built on Frank's legacy while stamping his own identity on the team.

The default formation is 4-2-3-1. Brentford average around 40% possession, the lowest in the league, but this is by design. They keep their front three narrow and play the most through balls and long passes in the division, favouring a direct, vertical approach. Their counter-attacking speed ranks among the league's best, and they employ an aggressive high press on opponents' goal kicks.

Opened in 2020, the 17,250-capacity Gtech Community Stadium replaced Griffin Park as Brentford's home. The move gave the club a modern facility befitting their Premier League status, with expansion plans that could increase capacity to approximately 25,000.

The stadium sits at the heart of a broader regeneration project for the Brentford area, incorporating new housing and community facilities. One of the smallest grounds in the Premier League, its compact design creates an intimate atmosphere with fans close to the pitch.