Northampton Town defender Charlie Goode has joined Championship play off finalists Brentford for a club record fee.
Goode joined the Cobblers from Scunthorpe United just over a year ago, and captained Northampton Town to promotion via the League 2 play off final at Wembley.
Manager Keith Curle said: "In Charlie we saw a player who had potential, as a club we invested in Charlie and very quickly he has gone from a reserve team player at his previous club to our first team promotion winning captain and now on to the Championship and a club who were a fraction away from winning promotion to the Premier League.
"When we signed Charlie last summer, we faced a lot of competition for his services. What helped him decide to join us was our conversations together which were about developing his game, moving forward together and that in our belief we would be the best place to give him that platform to help him further his career and that is exactly what has happened.
"We have received a record fee, which in our opinion represents very good value for the club and when that happens, and it suits all parties, it makes sense. A lot of credit goes to the club and our Chairman Kelvin Thomas as it’s important that if you are investing in players like this, that when they do move on you ensure you are getting best value which we have certainly achieved.
"Any player who is thinking of joining us knows that we are a club on an upward curve and we are the ideal place for hungry and ambitious players who want to join us on that curve, both from a team and a personal point of view. We want players who can help us and help themselves. Brentford was also a good fit after Charlie decided that was where he wanted to sign as they have a very similar model and a good record of further developing players.
"Of course not every player in the squad will be in that bracket, you also need that bedrock of experience and of knowledge but we understand what blend is required to create that environment and that culture to allow the team and individual players to develop.
"For us, the recruitment is about adding players who fit our path at that time and that is where we are looking currently. Charlie needed us as much as we needed him, and there aren't many centre backs from League 2 who have attracted the value of offers Charlie has and that is credit to Charlie and credit to the club and shows we must be doing a lot of things right."