Finley Munroe

Finley Munroe
Personal information
Full name Finley Christopher Ryan Munroe[1]
Date of birth (2005-02-08) 8 February 2005 (age 19)[2]
Place of birth England
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Real Unión
(on loan from Aston Villa)
Number 24
Youth career
0000–2021 Chelsea
2021–2024 Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Aston Villa 1 (0)
2024–Real Unión (loan) 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:51, 28 October 2024

Finley Christopher Ryan Munroe (born 8 February 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Primera Federación club Real Unión, on loan from Premier League club Aston Villa. A left-footed player, Munroe can play across the defense and in defensive midfield.

Club career

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Munroe started his career at the Chelsea Academy. During this time, former player Ashley Cole had identified Munroe as someone who should have a specialist scholarship.[3] Despite this, Munroe was released by Chelsea on 30 June 2021, allegedly for being too small,[4] and joined Aston Villa 9 days later.[5] He was given his first professional contract on 7 July 2022.[6]

Munroe made his first appearance in the Aston Villa first team on 26 January 2024, as an unused substitute in an FA Cup tie against former club Chelsea.[7] On 12 April 2024, Munroe was given a contract extension by Aston Villa.[8]

On 9 May 2024, Munroe made his first team debut as a late substitute in a 2–0 UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final defeat to Olympiacos.[9] On 19 May 2024, Munroe made his Premier League debut as a substitute in an away defeat to Crystal Palace on the final day of the season.[10]

On 24 August 2024, Munroe signed for Aston Villa's sister club Real Unión on a season-long loan.[11]

Personal life

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Munroe is a cousin of Arsenal player Declan Rice.[7][12]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 26 October 2024[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aston Villa U21 2023–24 3[a] 0 3 0
Aston Villa 2023–24 Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 2 0
2024–25 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
Real Unión (loan) 2024–25 Primera Federación 5 0 0 0 5 0
Career total 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 10 0
  1. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance in UEFA Europa Conference League

References

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  1. ^ "2022/23 Premier League squad lists". premierleague.com. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Finley Munroe". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  3. ^ "The five Aston Villa teenagers people are talking about ahead of next season". Yahoo News. 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  4. ^ Dawson, Jack (2024-05-21). "Who is Finley Munroe? Aston Villa's upcoming star who is related to Declan Rice". Aston Villa News. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  5. ^ "Ten new scholars sign for Villa". Aston Villa Football Club. 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  6. ^ "Young Lions sign pro contracts". Aston Villa Football Club. 2022-07-07. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  7. ^ a b Townley, John (2024-01-26). "Who is Finley Munroe? Declan Rice cousin named in Aston Villa squad vs Chelsea". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  8. ^ "Finley Munroe pens professional contract". Aston Villa Football Club. 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  9. ^ "Villa out as Olympiakos reach Conference League final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  10. ^ "Mateta hat-trick helps Palace thrash Villa". BBC Sport. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  11. ^ "Finley Munroe links up with Real Unión". Aston Villa Football Club. 2024-08-24. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
  12. ^ Hamid, Fahad (2024-01-27). "Declan Rice's cousin receives call-up from Aston Villa for FA Cup clash". ClutchPoints. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  13. ^ Finley Munroe at Soccerway
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