Goalkeeper, Ellery Balcombe has signed a new three-year contract at Brentford until June 2029.
Balcombe’s contract renewal comes despite having made only one senior appearance for the Bees which came in August 2023 in a second-round victory in the Carabao Cup against Newport County on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
He subsequently spent the 2024-25 season on loan at St Mirren then Motherwell before he was integrated into Keith Andrews’ squad back at Brentford last season as third-choice goalkeeper, which saw him make no appearances as he found himself behind Caoimhin Kelleher and Hakon Valdimarsson.
His performances in training however proved good enough for the club to award him a new three-year contract until June 2029, with a club option to extend for a further year.
The 26-year-old is also considered an integral member of the first-team squad by Andrews as the Head Coach explained that Balcombe’s professionalism and standards has helped Kelleher and Valdimarsson both improve their skills.
“Ellery is really important to the group. It goes under the radar sometimes, the impact that a player has at a club if they’re not prevalent in the starting line-up.
“Ellery has been here for a long time, came through the academy and knows what the club is about.
“He’s had numerous loan moves previously, but I can only speak about him since I’ve been in charge, and how good he’s been behind the scenes, his professionalism and how his standards really drive the goalkeeping department.
“We’ve got a really healthy goalkeeping department – led by Manu [Sotelo, first team goalkeeping coach] – and all of the goalkeepers play their part in that.
“He’ll keep pushing on a daily basis to keep that competition for places going.”
Brentford’s Director of Football, Phil Giles added; “Ellery has been here for a long time now, and seen a lot of change over the years.
“It is hard to understate the credit he deserves for the role he’s played in the growth of the club, bringing a positive attitude to the training ground every day and ensuring that everyone needs to keep performing to the highest of standards.
“He hasn’t really got the recognition he deserves in terms of first-team appearances, but his job is to keep pushing and force himself into the team. I’m very pleased that he will have that opportunity over the coming seasons to do that.”