St Mirren Football Club is delighted to announce the loan signing of Ellery Balcombe from Brentford FC subject to international clearance.
The goalkeeper becomes our second signing of the summer as he joins on loan from the English Premier League side until the end of the season.
A product of Brentford’s academy, Ellery has been capped by England at U18, U19 and U20 level. After impressing for Brentford B, Ellery earned his promotion to the Bees’ first-team squad in 2018 and has gained valuable playing experience with loan spells at Boreham Wood, Viborg FF, Doncaster Rovers, Burton Albion, Bromley, Crawley Town and Bristol Rovers. The goalkeeper has made 72 senior career appearances, keeping 20 clean sheets, across English League One & League Two, the National League and the Danish second tier and signed a new four-year contract with the Bees last October.
The 24-year-old made his Brentford debut in their penalty shoot-out win over Newport County in the EFL Cup in August 2023, saving two penalties in the shoot-out as Brentford progressed.
Ellery joins Shaun Rooney in signing up with the Buddies ahead of season 2024/25.
Speaking to stmirren.com, manager Stephen Robinson said: "Ellery is someone I’ve really liked.
I’ve watched Ellery for a while. His distribution is very good, he’s commanding in his box and I believe he’s someone that will enhance our already good record of goalkeepers."
"We were keen to keep Zach [Hemming] but we spoke to Middlesborough and he's their player so we have to respect that. He'll go back for pre-season and fight for a number two jersey there, but we already knew that would come.
Ellery was somebody that we had been speaking to and keeping close watch on. He was our first choice to join and we’re delighted to have that over the line. It gives us a real base and our squad is taking shape nicely now."
Ellery Balcombe with Brentford manager Thomas Frank after making his Bees debut (Image: Brentford FC)
