Ellery Balcombe has signed a new long-term contract with Brentford FC and will join Sky Bet League One side Doncaster Rovers on loan until the end of the season. The 21-year-old goalkeeper put pen to paper on his new deal, which runs through until the summer of 2025, earlier this week, before meeting up with Darren Moore’s promotion-chasing Rovers.

Brentford FC Head Coach, Thomas Frank, said: “Ellery is one of our very good young goalkeepers, alongside Patrik Gunnarsson, who we have a huge amount of belief in. This new contract, and the chance to go and get important minutes with Doncaster Rovers in League One, shows the regard we hold Ellery in as a player for the future at Brentford. Many top players have made the step up from League One in recent years and this time at Doncaster will be a really good chance for Ellery to get vital minutes during this next stage of his development.”

Ellery joined The Bees as a seven-year-old and was part of the original Brentford B squad formed in 2016. He first earned a place on the bench for our Sky Bet Championship game against Fulham that November. He was also in the matchday squad the following season for our Emirates FA Cup tie against Notts County before joining National League side Boreham Wood on loan in August 2018. He made eight appearances for The Wood, conceding just ten goals, before injury cut short his time in Hertfordshire.

The following year Ellery went out on loan again, this time to Nordic Bet Liga side Viborg FF. He made eight appearances in Denmark, keeping three clean sheets, before a back injury forced him to return to TW8 prematurely.

At international level, Ellery has represented England at every level between Under-18 and Under-21. He was part of the 2017 Toulon Tournament winning side and has been a regular in England Under-21 squads over the past 18 months. In total, he has 18 caps for the Young Lions across four age groups.

Doncaster are currently fourth in League One, four points off the automatic promotion places but with a game in hand. Ellery has been given permission to play for Rovers in the Emirates FA Cup meaning he could make his debut this weekend when Moore’s side visit Blackburn Rovers in the Third Round.