A €12 million transfer fee has been agreed.
Aston Villa has successfully secured the signing of Metz prodigy Brian Madjo. The 16-year-old striker will reportedly be joining Unai Emery’s squad in a deal valued at approximately €12 million, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano. Although several top European clubs were vying for Madjo’s signature, Villa appears to have clinched the deal, signifying a significant achievement for the club. It is expected that Madjo will ink a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Midlands team, with his medical already arranged.
During Metz’s return to the top tier, they gave the 16-year-old his professional debut, appointing him to lead the attack. Notably, his debut took place in the Derby de L’Est against Strasbourg, where Liam Rosenior fielded a starting eleven with an average age of just 20.4 years, all born after 2000. Despite his youth, Madjo stands at 6ft 2in, showcasing remarkable athleticism. Metz believes he is destined for greatness, assigning him a market value of €4 million on Transfermarkt.
Who is Brian Madjo?
Born in Enfield, North London, in January 2009, Madjo relocated to Luxembourg at a young age. Comes from a footballing family; his father, Guy, was a professional player for several English clubs including Bristol City, Port Vale, and Crawley Town. Madjo signed his first professional contract with Metz earlier this summer after impressing in the youth ranks, scoring 13 goals in 26 appearances for the U19 team. First-team manager Stephane Le Mignan promoted him to the senior squad this summer, where he has already made five appearances. If he joins Villa, he will become Metz’s sixth highest sale in history.
Additionally, Madjo has already represented Luxembourg at the senior international level three times. However, he played for England’s U17s during the last international break and might consider switching allegiances, as he has only participated in friendlies for Luxembourg. His senior debut came against Sweden in March, where he played an hour in a remarkable victory. Due to his physical stature, Madjo has drawn comparisons to Romelu Lukaku. Manuel Cardoni, Luxembourg’s technical director, noted that Madjo has a more ‘complete profile’ than the Napoli striker. He praised Madjo’s ability in tight spaces, positional play, and proficiency with both feet, stating there is significant potential for growth. Relatively under the radar, Madjo is a talent to watch, with multiple Premier League clubs monitoring his progress.
