DONE DEAL :Agreed’ – Bristol rovers confirm first summer business for ‘superb’ ex Leeds United star

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Brentford FC
‘Agreed’ – Brentford confirm first summer business for ‘superb’ ex Bristol Rovers star

By Toby Bryant
Published 24th May 2024, 13:22 BST

Ellery Balcombe will gain experience in Scotland.
Brentford have already sent one first team star out on loan ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Brentford have confirmed that goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe has agreed to spend the 2024/25 season on loan across the border at Scottish Premiership side St Mirren.

The shot-stopper, who has been with the club since the age of eight years old, has made just one first-team appearance for the Bees so far. That came in a Carabao Cup meeting with Newport County last August, when the shot-stopper helped his side through the second round on penalties.

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Balcombe featured on the bench for a handful of Brentford’s earlier games in the Premier League season last term but found playing time limited in west London. He had previously spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Crawley Town and Bristol Rovers but saw those stints hampered by injuries.

Brentford signed Iceland goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson from Swedish side Elfsborg for around €3 million in January, which made competition for the back-up spot to Mark Flekken even more competitive. The Bees also have Thomas Strakosha and Matthew Cox at their disposal, with David Raya set to complete a permanent move to Arsenal this summer.

Confirming the news on the club website, Brentford wrote: “Goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe has joined Scottish Premiership side St Mirren on a season-long loan ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

“Balcombe has been with the west Londoners since the age of eight and made his first-team debut against Newport County in August, saving two spot-kicks during a penalty shootout victory in the second round of the Carabao Cup.”

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Balcome will work under former Bournemouth midfielder Stephen Robinson at St Mirren. The club finished fifth in the Scottish Premiership last term, earning a spot in the Europa Conference League second qualifying round for the upcoming campaign, which could give the Brentford goalkeeper a chance to taste European football.

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Thomas Frank is a fan of the young goalkeeper.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank is known to be a big fan of the 24-year-old. After his Carabao Cup penalty heroics last year, the manager said: “He was superb. I think he played a good game; I’m so pleased for him. After the game I saw his mum was in the stand and the fans were singing his name. I almost got emotional because he has been here since he was eight.

“I asked Kevin [O’Connor] to say a few words to him because he is the one who will have that feeling and that emotion in him. He knows what it is like to be at this club for many years. That was a nice moment for him personally at the end and he got a very nice applause from the players and the staff.

“He deserved that; it’s not been a straight forward journey. He’s been working very hard and he’s in a good place, so I am pleased for him.”

Related topics:Thomas FrankBrentfordBristol RoversScottish PremiershipPremier League

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