Eligibility debate: Can Aston Villa’s Brian Madjo play for England?
Brian Madjo, the 17‑year‑old Aston Villa striker, finally secured registration after a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling, allowing him to feature in matches and reigniting the debate over whether he can represent England despite his Luxembourg senior caps.
Madjo signed for Villa from Metz in January, but the club was unable to register the teenager at the time.
Registration cleared after CAS ruling
The dispute was resolved when a tribunal ruled he could not be registered until he turned 18 the following January; Villa’s appeal was upheld late last month, and Madjo is now officially registered and eligible to play.
His debut came in Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint‑Germain in Salzburg, where he scored a volley past goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, with Willian Pacho close behind.
Brian Madjo (Image credit: Getty Images) Eagle‑eyed fans noted the strike, and the headline‑grabbing performance prompted the question: Could Brian Madjo play for England?
International eligibility under scrutiny
Born in Enfield, North London, Madjo is not a home‑grown player; he spent his junior years in Luxembourg before joining Metz’s youth set‑up three years ago.
He has represented Luxembourg at youth levels and earned three senior caps last year, while also being eligible for Cameroon.
Qualified for England by birth, Madjo exercised FIFA’s one‑time switch to change allegiance, committing to England and subsequently amassing nine caps and four goals for Liam Bramley’s under‑17 side.
“I know how to adapt because I’ve played in Luxembourg and in France, so I know what it’s like to change to another country,” Madjo said on his arrival at Bodymoor Heath in January. “On the pitch and off the pitch, that will really help me in Birmingham.”
Captain John McGinn believes Madjo will be a ‘big player’ for the Europa League winners this season, while manager Unai Emery will need to manage the teenager carefully within both Villa and the England set‑up.
With his registration settled and his international future now a focal point, Madjo’s development will be closely watched as he balances club duties and potential England involvement.