Ian Holloway was not impressed by Aston Villa's decision
08:00, 07 Feb 2026
Finley Munroe of Middlesbrough applauds the fans
Finley Munroe of Middlesbrough applauds the fans(Image: MI News/NurPhoto)
Ian Holloway blasted Aston Villa’s ‘blunder’ in selling Finley Munroe to Middlesbrough, telling the Premier League club, ‘you should be ashamed’.
Munroe joined Boro in the January transfer window after enjoying a hugely successful loan spell with Holloway at Swindon Town in League Two.
Out of contract in the summer, Villa decided to cash in at the last available opportunity, having decided against offering the 20-year-old a new deal. They recalled him from his loan early and agreed a six-figure fee with Boro.
Holloway had previously criticised the transfer as it was happening, comparing the young left-back to Seamus Coleman, who he managed at Blackpool early in his career. After the deal was completed and Munroe left Swindon, the outspoken Holloway was even more scathing in his verdict.
Holloway said: "We've just lost the quality he gave us down there. I can't get someone from Middlesbrough, who has a four-year contract, who are paying him what they have decided to pay him.
"Well done to Middlesbrough for recognising it. Aston Villa, you should be ashamed of yourselves. You let go one of the best future left-backs I have ever seen in my lifetime, and I have seen a few. Some of them played in the Premier League with me and for me. I think they have made a terrible blunder."
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The remarks make for good reading for Boro, as do his previous comparisons to Coleman. Munroe made his debut in the recent win over Preston North End, coming off the bench for a five-minute cameo.
With Matt Targett remaining at Boro for the rest of the season amid Newcastle United recall fears last month, Munroe is likely to take more of a development brief for the rest of this season.
But Boro feel like they’ve signed a huge prospect, and his development can’t be harmed from learning from the Newcastle loanee. He’s contracted to Boro until June 2030.
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