Exeter sign midfielder Brierley and striker Wareham
Jayden Wareham has spent time at Chelsea's academy
- Published
Exeter City have signed Brentford midfielder Ethan Brierley on a season-long loan and former Reading striker Jayden Wareham for an undisclosed fee.
21-year-old Brierley's sole first-team appearance for the Premier League side came as a substitute in the EFL Cup two years ago.
He joined the Bees from Rochdale in June 2023 and has spent the past two seasons playing for their B team after impressing for Dale as a teenager in League One and League Two.
Meanwhile, Exeter have agreed to pay Reading compensation for Wareham, 22, who came up through the club's academy before spending time at Chelsea.
He has agreed a two-year deal at St James Park with the club having an option to extend his contract by a further 12 months.
Wareham scored seven goals if 44 games last season and has also spent time on loan at Woking and Leyton Orient
Ethan Brierley played in League One as a teenager with Rochdale
"We've been chasing Jayden Wareham all summer," Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.
"We believe he's a young striker with a huge future.
"He's scored goals at League One, which is very difficult for us to attract a player who has scored goals at our level, they normally come with a huge price tag, and hopefully we've kind of stolen a march on teams and got in for Jayden at the right time when we can get him.
"He's a really energetic player who works extremely hard, not only does he score and perform in possession, but he actually is the first line of defence and presses extremely well."
Brierley follows fellow Brentford youngster Ryan Trevitt, who had two half-season loan spells at Exeter, over the past two seasons.
"He's somebody we know a lot about and we've been tracking him for a long time," Caldwell said of his new loanee.
"I feel like this is the right opportunity and moment for him to come and show what he can do.
"He's an energetic midfield player, quite similar to Ryan Trevitt in how he can build deeper, but he can also attack the box and have quality in the final third."