Arsenal star Declan Rice reacts to Middlesbrough, Aston Villa transfer agreement | OneFootball

A relative of Rice has just secured a notable transfer switch to Teesside

Middlesbrough completed somewhat of a surprise transfer this week when taking a punt on Aston Villa defender Finley Munroe.

Having spent the first half of the 2025-26 campaign on loan at Swindon Town in League Two, where he registered two goals and six assists in league action for the promotion-chasing Robins, 20-year-old Munroe has got a new opportunity at another club that are looking to move up a level.

Boro are believed to have paid a fee in the region of £300,000 for Munroe's services, with Villa holding a 30 per cent sell-on clause, should the left-back go on to make a further move.

Munroe's talent has been recognised by Boro's recruitment team, where he will now battle with the likes of Alex Bangura and potentially Matt Targett, should he not be recalled by Newcastle United, but many may not know that he has a famous footballing cousin - and he's currently perhaps one of the biggest stars in the Premier League now who is gunning to win his first top flight title.

Declan Rice sends message to new Middlesbrough signing Finley Munroe

That cousin is none-other than Declan Rice, who is a sure-fire contender for the Premier League Player of the Year award thanks to his performances for Arsenal this season as they look to win their first title since 2004.

Both Rice and Munroe were born in Kingston upon Thames, and like his England international family member, the new Boro recruit started in Chelsea's academy, before being released in 2021 for being too small.

Munroe has gone on to develop across loan spells at Villa's sister club Real Unión as well as Swindon, with the Championship set to be his latest test as he steps up two levels from what he's already been performing at this season.

And taking to Instagram, Rice has wished his cousin well over his latest career move, and he's revealed that he is 'proud' of his relative.

Whilst he has a long way to go to get on Rice's level, Munroe is at least on a huge upward trajectory, having seriously impressed at fourth tier level, with his next step now trying to impress new head coach Kim Hellberg - although he may have to be patient.

Finley Munroe could be thrown in at the deep end at Middlesbrough as Matt Targett decision looms

The jump up in quality from League Two to the Championship is absolutely massive - especially at a club that are battling for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that perhaps the best course of action would have been for Boro to loan Munroe back out to Swindon after permanently securing his signature, if it was possible, given how well he's developed under Ian Holloway.

But with a decision to be made by Newcastle United on potentially recalling Matt Targett from his loan at the Riverside Stadium, with Eddie Howe's squad ravaged by injuries, there's a chance that Munroe could soon be needed by Hellberg.

Alex Bangura has recently returned from a long-term injury layoff, with a lack of centre-backs seeing Targett moved to an inside position alongside Luke Ayling, but there are two issues - Targett could be recalled, and Bangura will need a rest at some point after so long out of action, which is where Munroe may come into the equation.

If that happens, we will soon see if he's currently up to the task in the Championship, but there will be more of a long-term thought when it comes to this particular deal for Boro.