Bursting onto the scene at a young age in Northern Ireland, Balmer quickly established himself as a first-team footballer by the time he was 18. 90 appearances for Ballymena United, including appearances in Europe, the centre-back moved to Larne, becoming a full-time player for the first time in 2021 whilst also earning a call-up to the Northern Ireland squad for the first time also just prior.

A successful year with Larne saw Balmer get noticed for his consistent displays and long throw-ins. Crystal Palace brought Balmer to England, and he was on the bench for the Eagles on a number of occasions.

Impressing at Under 21 level, he signed a new contract with Palace before going out on loan to Port Vale and Wimbledon last season. Now only 24 years old, the future is bright for Balmer, who committed for two years here at Fir Park.

In his first season he accumulated plenty of minutes and scored in his first competitive match against Edinburgh City in the Premier Sports Cup. Continually receiving call-ups for his country in the process.