Brentford boss Thomas Frank has backed new signing Ethan Pinnock to ‘step up’ to the demands of the Championship this season after joining the Bees on a three-year-deal from newly-promoted Barnsley.

The 26-year-old didn’t miss a game for the Tykes last season as they secured promotion from League One, earning himself a place in the PFA League One Team of the Season and claiming Barnsley’s player of the year award.

Bees head coach Frank has praised the defender’s consistency throughout his career and has backed Londoner to perform well in the Championship.

“His path in the game has been unusual and every time he has made the next step, he has not only proved himself, he has reached the top at that level,” said the Brentford boss.

“We are sure he will step up again in the Championship and do very well. He has a top character and a top mentality, and will fit in to our squad on and off the pitch.

“Ethan is a good defender with the sort of defensive mindset we want to bring in to the club. We like his aerial dominance and he is good at set-pieces in both penalty areas.

“He has a good left foot and has the courage and composure to move the ball forward, and find passes that we want to play.”

With the departures of centre-backs Chris Mepham and Yoann Barbet to Bournemouth and Queens Park Rangers respectively in recent times, co-director of football Phil Giles hailed the importance of signing Pinnock.

“The centre-back position is an area we clearly needed to strengthen this summer since both Chris Mepham and Yoann Barbet have left the club in the last six months without replacement,” said Giles.

“Ethan fits the bill perfectly and follows a long tradition of good players who have chosen to join Brentford from League One and League Two.

“We welcome him to the club and wish him every success.”

The Bees new-boy came through the youth ranks at Dulwich Hamlet, making his first-team debut when he was just 16.

Pinnock helped them out of the Ryman League Southern Division in 2013 and played more than 200 games for the club before leaving for Forest Green Rovers.

After spending just one year in Gloucestershire, the 6ft 4in centre back joined Barnsley in July 2017, where he spent two seasons before making the switch to west London.