Brentford’s Danish international Andreas Bjelland has left the Bees club after turning down a new contract.

Bjelland’s deal expired last week and earlier this summer, it was reported that the 29-year-old was seeking a move to a Premier League club.

The centre-back joined the Bees from Dutch outfit FC Twente in 2015 and has played 71 times for the club over three seasons, including 35 appearances this term as Brentford finished ninth, six points off the play-offs.

Head coach Dean Smith said of Bjelland’s departure: “We are all disappointed that we could not agree a deal with Andreas as last season, he had shown the quality he possesses in a positive season.

“His time was hampered by the serious knee injury but he successfully returned and became an important and popular player within the squad, also contributing in the rise of younger players like Chris Mepham.”

Bjelland was left out of his country’s squad for the World Cup, Denmark head coach Ade Hareide unconvinced by the defender’s fitness despite him having featured prominently throughout their qualification campaign.

He won the Danish title with FC Nordsjælland in 2012 but left for Twente at the end of the season, spending three years in the Netherlands before joining Brentford.