Brentford goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe has signed a new contract.

The 26-year-old has put to pen paper on a fresh three-year deal until the summer of 2029, with a club option of a further 12 months.

Balcombe joined the Bees’ youth set-up at the age of eight, with his latest contract taking his association with the club to over two decades.

Head coach Keith Andrews said: “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.”

Director of football Phil Giles said: “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.”

Balcombe, capped by England at under-18s, U19s and U20s level, signed his first professional contract in 2016, before being promoted to the first-team squad in the summer of 2018.

As well as featuring for Brentford B, he enjoyed loan spells at Boreham Wood, Danish side Viborg FF, Doncaster Rovers, Burton Albion, Bromley – where he kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 FA Trophy win against Wrexham at Wembley – Crawley Town and Bristol Rovers across the following five years.

In August 2023, his development was rewarded with a first-team debut and, to date, his only appearance for the club, in a Carabao Cup round-two tie against Newport County.

On that night, he made a telling impact, saving two penalties following a 1-1 draw to secure a 3-0 shoot-out victory at Rodney Parade.

He spent the first half of the 2024/25 campaign north of the border with St Mirren, making 26 appearances across the Scottish Premiership and UEFA Conference League, before moving to Motherwell in January.

Last season, Balcombe remained with the Bees’ first team, featuring in a pre-season friendly against Borussia Mönchengladbach and being involved in three matchday squads across all competitions as Andrews’ side secured a ninth-place Premier League finish.

Balcombe on new contract

Ellery Balcombe shared his thoughts after penning a new three-year deal, extending his long-standing association with the club.

“I’ve been here all my life, so I’m buzzing to get it sorted,” said the goalkeeper.

“I had no idea when I was eight years old [that I’d still be here]. I was just coming here and playing for fun, but it’s obviously turned out to be an amazing time for me, especially with how the club has developed.

“I love the club. I was a supporter, so it’s a dream.

“Keith and Phil are people I look up to, so having those kind words from them makes it a bit more special.”

On working as part of the goalkeeping department and his ambitions for the future, Balcombe added: “Every day we push each other hard and try and get the best out of each other. It’s really competitive so I enjoy that a lot.

“I want to keep pushing. Eventually, I do want that no.1 spot, so I want to keep pushing for that position.”