Ethan Brierley

Ethan Craig Brierley (born 23 November 2003) is an English footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Brentford.

Early life
Brierley was born in Rochdale. He attended Oulder Hill Community School in Rochdale. Brierley was a childhood Rochdale supporter, having attended matches from the age of three onwards.

Career
Brierley started playing junior football for local team Roach Dynamos in Heywood and after trials at the academies of Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City, Brierley joined Rochdale's academy aged 7. Brierley was named on Rochdale's bench for a FA Cup match against Newcastle United in January 2020, at the age of 15. Because of his age, Brierley had to get changed separately to the rest of Rochdale's first team. He made his professional debut for Rochdale on 5 September 2020 in a 1–0 EFL Cup victory away to Huddersfield Town. He signed his first professional contract with the club on 26 November 2020, having turned 17 earlier that week. He made his league debut as a late substitute in a 2–0 defeat away to Ipswich Town on 26 September 2020, and made a further four league appearances across the 2020–21 season as Rochdale were relegated to EFL League Two after finishing 21st.

Having made just 3 cup appearances for Rochdale during the 2021–22 season, Brierley joined National League North side Spennymoor Town on loan for the remainder of the season on 24 March 2022. On 29 April 2022, Brierley was recalled from this loan spell by parent club Rochdale, and started Rochdale's final two matches of the season. He was nominated for the LFE League Two Apprentice of the Season award, but lost out to Junior Tchamadeu of Colchester United.

In July 2022, Brierley agreed an extension to his contract with Rochdale until summer 2024. He scored his first senior goal for the club in a 3–3 EFL Trophy draw away to Accrington Stanley on 30 August 2022. In January 2023, Brierley spent time on trial at both Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers. Brierley was unable to sign for Sheffield United due to the club being under a transfer embargo, whilst a deadline day transfer to Blackburn fell through after the English Football League rejected their application to register the player. Blackburn appealed this decision unsuccessfully, and Brierley returned to first-team action for Rochdale in late February. With Rochdale embroiled in a relegation battle, Brierley registered three assists in his first four games back as Dale picked up five points. However, Rochdale were eventually relegated after finishing bottom on 38 points, with Brierley having made 25 league appearances.

On 2 June 2023, it was confirmed that Brierley had signed for Brentford for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.