Former Irish League star praised as 'loyal and hard-working player' after Scottish Premiership club release
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou described former Irish League defender Kofi Balmer as “a loyal and hard-working player who has always given his very best” after confirmation of his departure from the Scottish Premiership club.
Balmer joined Motherwell from Premier League outfit Crystal Palace in 2024 and made 25 league appearances in Scotland.
The 25-year-old spent the latter half of last season on loan at League Two club Bristol Rovers and it’s been reported he has agreed a two-year pre-contract to return on a permanent basis.
“Kofi Balmer spent his last six months under contract at Bristol Rovers on a successful loan,” said Berthel Askou. “He has been a loyal and hard-working player who has always given his very best, and now he will pursue more minutes somewhere else.
"We wish him all the best and thank him for his commitment.”
Balmer was a mainstay in Steve Evans’ Rovers line-up, making 22 league appearances after arriving in January, scoring twice in the process.
The Newtownabbey native came through the ranks at Ballymena United and won a Co Antrim Shield with Larne before earning a dream move across the water to Palace.
He was named on the bench for three Premier League fixtures by Patrick Vieira but never made an English top-flight appearance for the Eagles.
Balmer enjoyed loan spells at Port Vale and AFC Wimbledon during his time at Selhurst Park.
Having made only five league outings for Motherwell last season, Balmer was sent on loan to Rovers and now looks set to extend his stay with Evans expecting a positive update in the near future.
"I know that the chief executive and our chairman have been in long dialogue with the people who have looked after Kofi," Evans told BBC Radio Bristol. "Motherwell have been fantastic to deal with as well - I'm confident that in time Kofi will be with us for sure."
Balmer has been named on Northern Ireland’s bench six times – the most recent coming in friendly fixtures against Switzerland and Sweden in March 2025, while he was also called up in August – but is yet to make his senior debut.
Evans has full confidence that Balmer can establish himself in the international set-up by continuing to impress at Rovers – they finished the term by winning eight of their last nine matches.
"When he's got into his run of games and his second wind and training every day and with the tempo to play the games, he's been nothing short of exceptional for us," he added. "We signed the lad who had been an international, who had come away from the international scene, Kofi has played in the last six or eight weeks like a full international player for Bristol Rovers.
"I've got no doubt he'll obtain that status again if or when he joins us."