Ethan Brierley joined City on loan from Premier League side Brentford in the summer transfer window.
 
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.