Goalkeeper Patrik Gunnarsson has left Brentford and completed a permanent transfer to Viking Fotballklubb. The 21-year-old had a successful loan spell with the club, commonly known as Viking Stavanger, in the Norwegian Eliteserien. He has now made a permanent move for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance.

The move ends a three-and-a-half year stay in West London for the tall goalkeeper. Patrik joined Brentford B in the summer of 2018, aged 17. He made one appearance for Brentford, as a substitute in a Sky Bet Championship win at Middlesbrough in March 2019, and was promoted to the First Team squad later that year.

Phil Giles, Brentford Director of Football, said: “On behalf of everyone at Brentford I’d like to thank Patrik for his contributions over the last few years. He is a product of the B Team and, although he hasn’t got as many first team minutes for us as he would have liked, he has continued to develop himself, including in his recent successful loans. We feel that now is the time for Patrik to build on those loans by continuing to play regularly, which is why we have agreed to this transfer. We wish him every success in his future career.”

Patrik joined Brentford B from Icelandic side Breiðablik. He came through the youth ranks at Breiðablik and played for the Icelandic team’s Under-19 side in the UEFA Youth League when he was 16. As well as his one First Team appearance for The Bees, Patrik was named on the bench for our season opening Premier League win over Arsenal in August.

He will be looking to build on a successful loan at Viking, who finished the 2021 season in third and qualified for European football in the 2022/23 campaign. Viking won four and drew two of the matches Patrik started, their only defeat coming to champions Bodø/Glimt. He also helped them reach the last 16 of the Norwegian Football Cup.

Patrik also had two loan spells in the NordicBet Liga in Denmark in the 2020/21 season. In two spells, first with Viborg FF and then Silkeborg IF, he kept 14 clean sheets in 26 unbeaten games as his two clubs filled both promotion spots from the Danish second tier. He also played three times for Southend United in 2020 on loan in League One.

Patrik has been a regular in recent Iceland squads but is yet to make his senior debut. He has, however, been an unused substitute for five senior internationals this season. Patrik was named in a squad for two recent friendly matches but had to withdraw due to injury. He does have 26 youth international caps to his name, including 12 with Iceland's Under-21s.