Brierley completes Exeter City loan move | OneFootball

Brentford B midfielder Ethan Brierley has made the move to Sky Bet League One side Exeter City on a season-long loan for the 2025/26 campaign, subject to EFL, FA and Premier League approval.

A consistent performer for Neil MacFarlane’s young Bees across the past two seasons, the 21-year-old featured in the west Londoners' Professional Development League national title win last term.

Brierley signed for the club from Rochdale in the summer of 2023 and made his first-team debut in the 2023/24 Carabao Cup second round win over Newport County.

He ended that season as the B team Players’ Player of the Year winner and was presented with the Mary Halder Award.

Brierley followed that campaign up with a strong 2024/25 showing, captaining the young Bees to the U21 PDL title and the Premier League Cup final.

He tallied 12 goals across all competitions, including a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Derby County, as well as nine assists, four of those coming across the PDL play-off semi-final, final and the PL Cup final.

Speaking on the loan move, MacFarlane said: “Ethan has been an absolutely outstanding player for us at Brentford.

"He has made his first-team debut, won a Player of the Year award, captained the team to last season’s PDL title and assisted and scored many goals during our fantastic campaign.

“As well as all of the above, he is a brilliant character with a great attitude. He deserves this next step on loan to a very good club who have had a number of our players over the years and always looked after them so well. We wish Ethan and Exeter all the best for the new season.”

Brierley follows in the footsteps of Tony Yogane, who joined the Grecians for the second half of last campaign, as well as Ryan Trevitt, who has enjoyed two loan spells with the Devon outfit.

Exeter finished last season 16th in League One with 15 wins, 11 draws and 20 losses.