England international Declan Rice has sent a proud message to his cousin, Finley Munroe, after the young defender secured a significant January transfer to Championship promotion chasers Middlesbrough.
A Family Affair and a New Chapter
The 20-year-old full-back has joined Middlesbrough from Aston Villa for a reported fee of around £300,000, putting pen to paper on the deal on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Munroe, who began his career in the Chelsea academy just like his famous cousin, moved to Villa in 2021.
He made two first-team appearances for the Birmingham club, including a debut in a UEFA Conference League semi-final against Olympiacos and a Premier League outing. After a loan spell in Spain with Real Union last season, he impressed in the first half of this campaign with League Two side Swindon Town, catching the eye of Boro's recruitment team.
Messages of Support and Personal Ambition
Celebrating the move on Instagram, Munroe received enthusiastic backing from his family. Declan Rice commented: ‘Go time cuz! Proud of you!’ He wasn't the only high-profile figure to offer congratulations, with Chelsea legend John Terry also wishing the youngster good luck.
Speaking about his move to the Riverside Stadium, Munroe said: ‘I’m really happy to be here. It’s a proud moment for me and my family and I can’t wait to get started.’ He highlighted the club's size and Premier League ambitions as key factors in his decision.
On having a world-class cousin like Rice, Munroe added: ‘In all fairness I think watching him is really good for me just to see what he’s capable of, then I can know what I’m capable of. I don’t speak to him too much about it, but I just ride the journey by myself.’
Gratitude for Past Clubs and a Promotion Push
The defender was full of praise for his recent loan club, Swindon Town, and their manager Ian Holloway, stating he would ‘respect him for the rest of my life’. He also credited his early education at Chelsea's academy from the Under-9s to Under-16s as the ideal start for any aspiring footballer.
Munroe now joins a Middlesbrough side managed by Kim Hellberg, which currently sits second in the Championship table after 26 games. Boro are six points behind leaders Coventry City and in a fiercely competitive race for automatic promotion and play-off spots, with just six points separating them from ninth-placed Wrexham.
