Seventeen-Year-Old Brian Madjo Scores on Aston Villa Debut in Super Cup Defeat to PSG
A 17-year-old who could not legally play for Aston Villa until eight days ago scored on his competitive debut against Paris St-Germain in the Uefa Super Cup.
Brian Madjo, a 6ft 4in striker signed from Metz for £10 million, became the youngest player to start and score in the competition's history at Stadion Salzburg on 12 August 2026, according to Aston Villa's match report. PSG won the match 2-1, retaining the trophy they also won last year, Al Jazeera reported.
The goal was a proper centre-forward's effort. John McGinn swung in a cross and Madjo, holding off Ecuador international Willian Pacho, met it with a volley that cancelled out Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's opener. A Villa supporter celebrated by mooning a broadcast camera — a moment of pure, unfiltered joy that the highlights will not forget in a hurry, The Sun reported.
Desire Doue scored the winner for PSG in the second half after a VAR check — the video assistant referee review system that examines key decisions — to settle a match Villa had pushed hard to reach. Villa earned their place as winners of last season's Europa League, Uefa confirmed. For PSG, it was a 76-point Ligue 1 title campaign carried into a second consecutive Super Cup triumph.
The remarkable part is that Madjo should not have been anywhere near this stage. Under Fifa rules, players under 18 cannot complete international transfers, with limited exemptions that used to apply within the European Union — a door Britain shut when it left the EU. Villa argued Madjo should be exempt because he was born in London, despite holding three friendly caps for Luxembourg. The case went to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in July. Villa won, clearing his registration eight days before the PSG match, BBC Sport reported.
Madjo had fought the red tape since January. He had already played in Ligue 1 for Metz, becoming the first player born in 2009 to appear in France's top flight, Aston Villa noted when they announced the signing. He accepted an England Under-17 call-up last year and has four goals in nine appearances for that side, scoring on his debut against Venezuela.
He was not even in Villa's initial travelling squad for Salzburg. He was added late, then thrust into the starting line-up because Ollie Watkins — Villa's established first-choice striker — was rested after helping England to third place at the World Cup. Tammy Abraham, the other senior option, was left on the bench. Watkins, Emi Martinez, and Ezri Konsa all received a month off after the World Cup, with Villa manager Unai Emery refusing to rush them back.
Madjo repaid the faith. Four pre-season goals — against Real Sociedad and Indonesia All Stars among others — had signalled he was ready. Emery replaced him with Abraham with 18 minutes left, a measured withdrawal rather than a hook.
For Villa, the emergence of Madjo is timely. The club have been seeking another striker this summer, with Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson a reported target. Madjo's readiness offers Emery a different kind of option: a teenager who has already proven he can hold his own against the European champions.
Villa's Premier League season begins at Brighton on 23 August. Whether Madjo starts that one too is Emery's call. On this evidence, the boy will not be fazed by much.
