€12 million transfer fee
Aston Villa has triumphed in the pursuit of Metz sensation Brian Madjo. The 17-year-old striker has officially joined Unai Emery’s squad in a deal valued at approximately €12 million. Despite interest from several top European clubs, Villa has successfully secured Madjo’s signature, marking a significant achievement for the club. He has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract and stands as one of the priciest 17-year-olds in football history.
During Metz’s return to the top division, they gave the 16-year-old striker his professional debut, entrusting him to spearhead their attack. Notably, Madjo made his debut in the Derby de L’Est against Strasbourg, where the starting eleven featured players all born after 2000, averaging just 20.4 years in age. Despite being so young, Madjo already stands at 6ft 2in, showcasing remarkable athleticism; Metz believes the talented striker is on a path to greatness. His market value on Transfermarkt is currently set at €4 million.
Who is Brian Madjo?
Brian Madjo was born in January 2009 in Enfield, North London, but later relocated to Luxembourg. As a physically strong striker, Madjo comes from a footballing family; his father, Guy, played for several English clubs, including Bristol City, Port Vale, and Crawley Town. Madjo recently signed his first professional contract after an impressive stint with Metz’s youth team, where he netted 13 goals in 26 appearances for the U19 squad. First-team manager Stéphane Le Mignan promoted him to the senior squad this summer. In a league known for its emphasis on youth development, Madjo is one of the youngest debutants in Ligue 1’s history, having made five appearances for Metz this season. His transfer to Villa also positions him as Metz’s sixth highest sale ever.
Furthermore, Madjo has already represented Luxembourg in three senior international matches. He also played for England’s U17 team during the recent international break, leaving the door open for a potential switch of allegiance since he has only participated in friendly matches for Luxembourg. Luc Holtz handed him his senior debut against Sweden in March, where he played an hour in an impressive win for Luxembourg. Due to his physical attributes, Madjo has drawn parallels to Romelu Lukaku, with Manuel Cardoni, Luxembourg’s technical director, suggesting Madjo possesses a ‘more complete profile’ than the Napoli striker. Cardoni noted, “While we remain grounded, Brian demonstrates a more all-rounded skill set than Lukaku, showcasing his capabilities in tight spaces, positional play, and he can utilize both feet; his growth potential is immense.”
