Brian Madjo, Aston Villa's 17-year-old forward, announced himself on the European stage with a goal on his debut in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, fueling speculation that he could be England's long-term replacement for Harry Kane.
Madjo, aged 17 years and six months, started the match in Salzburg and scored with an emphatic first-time finish, holding off Willian Pacho before firing past Matvey Safonov with his weaker left foot. Although the goal didn't secure victory for Villa, it marked his arrival in senior football.
Rapid Rise from Luxembourg to Villa
Born in Enfield, north London, Madjo moved to Luxembourg with his Cameroonian parents at a young age. His father, Guy, was a striker who played for several EFL clubs. After playing in the academies of Marisca Mersch and Racing Union, French club Metz signed him in 2023. He made his debut last season aged 16 and played four more games for their first team in the 2025-26 campaign.
Madjo earned three senior caps for Luxembourg, but FIFA rules allowed him to switch to England because those caps came in friendlies. He has since played nine times for England's under-17s, scoring four goals and providing one assist.
Transfer Saga and Legal Battle
Signed for £10 million in January, Madjo initially couldn't play in competitive fixtures due to FIFA's rules on international transfers of minors. The transfer was deemed international because of his Luxembourg appearances, while Villa argued he was English, given his birth and UK citizenship. The Premier League club took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and won earlier this month, allowing him to play in the Super Cup.
Villa manager Unai Emery selected Madjo in the absence of Ollie Watkins, who was given extra time off after England's World Cup campaign. At 30, Watkins still fancies his chances of succeeding Kane himself, but Madjo's emergence adds competition.
Praise from Former Players and Officials
Former Villa striker Stan Collymore posted on X during the match: "I guarantee he'll be fast tracked into U21s then seniors by the end of the season. England are struggling for strikers, out and out No.9s. We aren't producing them at any senior or youth level. So Madjo (he's raw but his physical dominance of two world class central defenders WILL warrant a look by England scouting analysis) potentially being fast tracked simply addresses a problem."
Villa right-back Matty Cash described Madjo as a 'beast' after the game. "All pre-season he's put his body around, scored goals," Cash said. "And then tonight he had a few chances as well. He had the header where he probably could've scored and then a good finish. Really happy for him and 17 is still so young. He'll be delighted."
Luxembourg's technical director, Manuel Cardoni, previously likened him to Romelu Lukaku but insisted Madjo can be better. "His profile is similar but, even if we are keeping our feet on the ground, Brian has a more complete profile," Cardoni said. "He is good in tight spaces, really good in terms of positional play. He is also good in terms of going in behind, and he can also feed the ball with both feet. He has huge room for growth."
Madjo is not yet available on Fantasy Premier League, highlighting how early he is in his career. Villa begin their Premier League campaign away to Brighton next Sunday, and with the September-October international break approaching, speculation about an England call-up continues.
