Former Lincoln City loanee Finley Barbrook has secured a move to the Scottish Premiership, joining Falkirk on a season-long loan from Ipswich Town.
The 21-year-old defensive midfielder will spend the 2026/27 campaign with the newly promoted Scottish side as he looks to build on a season that included spells with both the Imps and Colchester United.
Barbrook joined the Imps on loan in September 2025, but his time at Sincil Bank never really got going. He made his debut in the EFL Trophy against Notts County shortly after arriving, but opportunities remained limited, and he returned to Ipswich in January having made just three appearances, all of them in that competition.
It was a brief spell for a player who had arrived with a decent reputation from the Ipswich academy. Barbrook had captained their under-21 side and was named the club’s Academy Player of the Year in 2024, while previous loans with Chelmsford City and Sutton United had already given him a taste of senior football. His time at Sutton was particularly productive, with the midfielder winning both their Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.
After leaving City in January, Barbrook was quickly back out on loan, joining Colchester United for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign. He made 16 appearances for the U’s and has now been handed another opportunity to continue his development away from Portman Road, this time at a considerably higher level with Falkirk.
Falkirk manager John McGlynn believes Barbrook can bring both physical presence and composure to his midfield, with the 6ft 2in youngster having been on the club’s radar for some time.
“He’s one we’ve been chasing for some time, so we’re delighted to have him here.
“He’s a 21-year-old central midfield player who’s 6ft 2in, and we’ve been crying out for someone with that kind of stature in our midfield.
“He’s had some good loan deals already, so he’s experienced at going out on loan. He’s got the size and stature that we’re looking for, and he’s a footballer who can play and take care of the ball.”
McGlynn also described Barbrook as the sort of player who can be the “glue” that holds a midfield together, which perhaps gives an indication of the role Falkirk have in mind for him. Having already experienced National League, League Two and a brief taste of life with City, the move north represents another important stage in his development.
Barbrook never really had the chance to show Imps supporters what he could do during his few months with us, with those three EFL Trophy appearances his only outings in red and white. At 21, though, there is still plenty of time for him to turn a succession of useful loan spells into a sustained senior career, and a season in the Scottish Premiership could prove to be his biggest opportunity yet.
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