Exeter City Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Ethan Brierley on loan from Premier League side Brentford.
Ethan is City’s fourth signing of the transfer window and the talented 21-year-old midfielder joins on a season-long loan – following in the footsteps of Ryan Trevitt, Tristan Crama and Tony Yogane, who have made the loan move from the Bees to the Grecians.
A tenacious midfielder with an eye for goal. Ethan joined the Rochdale Academy as a 7-year-old. He was named as a substitute for Rochdale against Newcastle United at the age of just 16 in January 2020 and would go on to make his professional debut in Rochdale’s 1-0 EFL Cup win over Huddersfield Town in September 2020.
Ethan has experience of League One and Two with Rochdale and scored his first professional goal in a 3-3 draw with Accrington Stanley in the EFL Trophy.
In June 2023 Ethan signed for Premier League side Brentford on a three-year deal and has impressed for their B side, racking up several goals and assists.
Ethan experienced St James Park as part of the Brentford B side that narrowly beat the Grecians U21s in the Premier League Cup last season – assisting the winning goal.
Speaking about brining Ryan to EX4, manager Gary Caldwell said: “Ethan's a player we've followed for a long time. We have a strong connection with Brentford and the players we've had in the past have been excellent for us and we hope Ethan falls into that category.
“He's a young, energetic, dynamic midfield player who can play as a six, but can also play higher. He gives us some versatility on how we can play and how we can set up in midfield.
“When he first joined Brentford, he spent a lot of time on the bench in the Premier League but didn't come on the pitch. But last season he had a consistency in terms of playing in their B team, which has taken his fitness levels and his output to another level, and now he needs that opportunity in league football to show his ability.”
Welcome to St James Park, Ethan!
If you would like to sponsor Ethan for the 2025/26 season, please get in touch with our commercial team via: commercial@ecfc.co.uk.