Brian Madjo, a 17-year-old striker for Aston Villa, marked his delayed competitive debut with a volleyed equaliser against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup on August 12, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Madjo’s goal came just before halftime after he outmuscled defender Willian Pacho, leveling the score at 1-1 [2, 3, 4, 5]. The match opened with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scoring for PSG in the 20th minute. In the second half, Desire Doue secured a winning goal for PSG after a VAR review, closing the game at 2-1 [2, 3, 4].
The towering forward, standing 6ft 4in tall, joined Aston Villa from Metz in January 2026 for a reported £10 million [2, 3, 4, 5]. However, FIFA blocked his registration due to international transfer rules protecting players under 18. Villa’s subsequent appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in early August 2026 succeeded, allowing Madjo to finally debut after a 212-day wait [2, 3, 4, 5].
Manager Unai Emery started Madjo based on his impressive preseason form, where he scored four goals [2, 3, 4, 5]. Villa captain John McGinn praised Madjo’s potential and expressed frustration over the lengthy registration saga, saying, "Brian has had a terrible year. A player born in England should be able to play in England. He has the potential to be an unbelievable striker and he showed that" [5].
Madjo previously played three times for Luxembourg’s senior team before switching allegiance to England, netting four goals in nine appearances for the England Under-17 side [2, 3, 4, 5]. His strong physical presence has drawn comparisons to Romelu Lukaku and Emile Heskey [3, 4, 5].
Teammate Tyrone Mings highlighted Madjo’s size and impact on the pitch: "He is a tough person to defend against. I think he is about 100kg – he is a big old boy. He has got a very high ceiling. He is very, very difficult to play against and I just hope that his goal fills him with confidence, and he can go on and continue to improve" [5]. Madjo himself expressed relief, saying simply, "No distractions, I’m free" after finally being cleared to play [5].
Match of the Day analysts Nedum Onuoha and Stephen Warnock called Madjo’s performance "hugely impressive," noting his goalscoring promise on the big stage [6].
Aston Villa will look to build on Madjo’s breakthrough as the new season progresses, with his registration now fully secured following the CAS ruling in early August 2026 [2, 3, 4, 5].
