Aston Villa's teenage striker Brian Madjo has impressed in pre-season, but whether he can feature in competitive matches next term rests on a legal dispute with FIFA at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The 17-year-old, signed from FC Metz for £10 million in January, has been denied registration by FIFA under Article 19 of its Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, which prohibits international transfers of minors. Villa are appealing the decision, hoping to overturn the ban before Madjo turns 18 in January 2027.
The Legal Hurdle
Madjo was born in Enfield, north London, before moving to Luxembourg with his parents, where he was raised. Villa argue that his English birthplace should exempt him from the restriction, a point they are pressing at CAS. The club's financial constraints under UEFA's rules make such investments significant; Villa's revenue is smaller than the traditional 'big six', so the £10m fee raised eyebrows. However, the club also signed Alysson from Grêmio for a similar fee, though the Brazilian has struggled with injuries.
Madjo has yet to play a competitive game for Villa. He trained with the first team during the second half of last season after returning to England and featured in a friendly against Elche in March. But it is his pre-season performances that have excited fans.
Pre-Season Promise
In Villa's first pre-season outing against Walsall, Madjo scored twice in two first-half minutes, showcasing strength and finishing. He then played 20 minutes against FC Porto before being handed 70 minutes against Real Sociedad's La Liga centre-backs Jon Martín and Igor Zubeldia. Both struggled to contain him: Madjo scored the equaliser after powering into the box and reacting quickest, and forced two Sociedad players into bookings. He also won a free-kick on the edge of the box after being barged in the back.
Despite his age, Madjo is a bruising forward, difficult to handle with his back to goal. His performances have drawn comparisons to Jhon Durán, who arrived from Chicago Fire in January 2023 as an unknown and became an impact substitute. Durán scored late winners against Crystal Palace and goals against Everton, Legia Warsaw, Ajax, Manchester City, and Liverpool. Emery sees Madjo as a similar weapon off the bench.
International Experience
Madjo made his first-team debut for Metz in August last season, starting against Strasbourg and Lyon, and made three further substitute appearances in Ligue 1. He has also represented England Under-17s four times, scoring in a 2-1 victory over Venezuela in September 2023.
Villa have four more pre-season games to assess Madjo, but he will only be eligible for the UEFA Super Cup if CAS rules in their favour. For Emery, the teenager could become a unique impact option, causing problems for Premier League defences late in games.
