Boro’ got some tongues wagging close to the start of the 2023-4 season with the addition of Finley Burns on a season-long loan. At just 20-years-old when he signed, the defender came highly rated from all-conquering Manchester City; part of the young Citizens’ side that secured a FA Youth Cup and U18 Premier League North title double in 2020. By City’s own description, he is a tall, imposing, and mature defender; attributes you’d be confident of serving Burns well as we embarked on our return to League One.

Finley Burns: Before Boro’

Burns had become quite the regular in City’s youth structure after joining the club from Southend United for a reported £175,000 in 2012. At the time, the defender was a mere 13-years-old and – in anyone’s book – that’s a decent wedge for a lad only just into his teen years. With the Premier League club, he played his part as they won a third successive PL2 crown in 2023. He also saw continental action in the UEFA Youth League. Oh, and he made his senior debut for City in a 2021 EFL Cup tie against Wycombe Wanderers.

As senior football goes, however, opportunities were still to come his way by the time he arrived at Boro’. The second half of the 2021-2 campaign saw him go to Swansea City on loan. But, while down in South Wales, he only made a handful of appearances; the experience no doubt helpful for him, but perhaps not quite what the intention had been? Either way, he signed a long-term contract extension at Manchester City around when he moved to South Wales. So, the Premier League club clearly see a long-term future for him there.