Field Insider
47.7
46.3%
Ratingi
26.3
83.9%
Seasoni
10.1
Valuei

based on the 2025/26 season · updated 22 Aug 2026

Profile

Full nameEthan Craig Brierley
PositionCentral midfielder
NationalityEngland
Age22
Date of birth23 Nov 2003
BirthplaceRochdale
Height168 cm
Shirt number#6
ClubHuddersfield
More about E. Brierley →
Central midfielder

Season stats

Full career & schedule →
42
Appearances
1
Goals
3
Assists
3477
Minutes

Domestic-league season · Exeter City.

Also this season

On loan at Exeter City — EFL Trophy: 2 apps, 0g 0a, 90 min

The headline Season rating covers his time at Huddersfield; availability counts only fixtures while in this squad.

Scout report

Solid contributorCentral midfielder

E. Brierley is a 22-year-old central midfielder at Exeter City, rated 47.7 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 14th of 109 on scout potential in the League One and 565th of 1772 U-23 players tracked. An emerging talent, he has been an ever-present this season (84% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 1.89 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Brierley.

Judged on this season alone, Brierley graded 26 — a solid campaign that ranks top 32% of the 25 central midfielders in the League One, on 1 goal, 3 assists and 1.89 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 14 → 26). Across the 3 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 48, top 20% of the 25 central midfielders in the League One. At 22 Brierley is still climbing toward his ceiling, and a market index of 10.1 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report
Read the full career report →

A career still climbing — Brierley is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.

Peak: 2025/26Trending upStepped up 2025/26
Current potentialTop 20% central midfielders · League OneCurrent seasonTop 32% central midfielders · League One8th-best central midfielder in the League One14th in the League One · potential5th-highest potential central midfielder in the League One565th-highest potential U-23 tracked
47.7
Ratingi
5th of 25 central midfielders
26.3
Seasoni
below regular-starter level
84%
Minutes
near ever-present
1.89
Def. actions / 90
light defensive volume

Output in context · Exeter City finished 21st of 24 · a lower-table side

42
Apps
1.89
Def. / 90
45
Tackles
19
Interceptions
11
Clean sheets

1.89 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — light defensive volume, with 11 clean sheets across 42 appearances. Doing that for a lower-table side (21st of 24) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 3 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

  • Availability. On the pitch for 84% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.

Watch points

  • Defensive numbers. Modest 1.89 defensive actions per 90 for the position.

Outlook

With a Rating of 47.7, Brierley carries the 5th-highest potential of the central midfielders in the League One (top 20%), and he is posting that for a lower-table side (Exeter City finished 21st of 24) — individual numbers are harder to earn on a struggling team, so his underlying level likely sits a touch above the ranking. Defensively he reads as light defensive volume (1.89 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 1.9×) with the best seasons likely ahead.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among central midfielders in the League One with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists3

Defending

Tackles45
Interceptions19
Blocks9

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards4
Red cards0

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.