Salzburg: Madjo makes instant mark for Aston Villa in Super Cup debut

By Charlie Bradshaw — 13 August 2026 — 3 min read

Brian Madjo made a notable debut for Aston Villa in their UEFA Super Cup defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in Salzburg. The 17-year-old striker scored his first goal for Villa 45 minutes into the match, a moment that followed an eight-month wait for his competitive appearance.

Madjo’s eligibility to play for Villa was delayed due to Fifa regulations concerning the transfer of an “international minor.” He was acquired from Metz in January for £10m. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) ultimately upheld Villa’s appeal, allowing him to be registered.

The striker, who was born in Enfield, north London, to Cameroonian parents, was raised in Luxembourg and has played in friendly matches for them. His father, Guy, previously played for Plymouth and Shrewsbury.

Emery’s belief and Madjo’s impact

Unai Emery, Villa’s manager, was a key figure in bringing Madjo to the club, pushing for his signing and expressing admiration for his talent. Emery had been keen to integrate Madjo into the first team towards the end of the previous season, indicating that a loan move for the teenager was unlikely, unlike for some other young players at Villa.

Madjo joined Villa on his 17th birthday, after Emery requested his chief scout, Alberto Benito, to personally assess the player at Metz. Madjo had made his Ligue 1 debut for Metz at 16 years and 217 days old.

In the Super Cup match at the Red Bull Arena, Madjo’s performance highlighted why Emery was so enthusiastic. Despite not being flawless against Paris Saint-Germain, he challenged their experienced centre-back pairing of Marquinhos and Willian Pacho. Tyrone Mings, a Villa defender, described Madjo as a “tough person to defend against,” noting his physical presence.

Madjo’s strength and attacking instincts were evident. He displayed excellent hold-up play, notably holding off Pacho before volleying in his goal. This goal also saw him break Patrick Kluivert’s 30-year record as the youngest goalscorer in the Super Cup. Moments before his goal, he had created an opportunity for Emi Buendía by challenging Pacho.

The young forward’s pre-season form had already been strong. He had been a prolific scorer, with only Chelsea’s João Pedro outscoring him among Premier League players in pre-season. Madjo had scored five goals in pre-season matches.

Patience and potential

Madjo’s journey to his Villa debut required considerable patience. Mings commented on Madjo’s character, stating that his ability to deal with setbacks was clear. Despite missing some chances in the Super Cup, he scored what was described as “probably the hardest of them all.”

His debut performance included 27 touches and six shots, culminating in a memorable strike. After 72 minutes, Madjo received a standing ovation from the travelling Villa supporters as he left the pitch.

Villa captain John McGinn had previously alluded to Madjo’s difficult year due to the waiting period. McGinn expressed belief in Madjo’s potential to be an “unbelievable striker.” Matty Cash, another Villa defender, praised Madjo’s pre-season efforts, highlighting his physicality and goal-scoring ability.

The experience of watching players like Ollie Watkins, who has consistently achieved double-digit goal tallies in the past six top-flight seasons, is believed to have helped Madjo settle. Mings noted that Emery places significant emphasis on off-the-ball work, an area where Watkins excels. Madjo also has Tammy Abraham as an experienced striker around him, from whom he can learn.

Emery’s vision for Aston Villa continues to evolve, with the club navigating financial regulations while aiming for growth. The manager remains enthusiastic about the project, citing examples like Borussia Dortmund’s 2024 Champions League final appearance as inspiration for what Villa could achieve. Villa will now prepare for their final friendly against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday, before starting their league campaign at Brighton a week later.

The team’s performance against PSG, despite the loss, showed a fearless display from young players like Madjo and 19-year-old winger George Hemmings. Emiliano Buendia also impressed in the match, which saw Villa challenge the reigning European champions. Buendia headed wide in the 95th and final minute of the match.

Source: theguardian.com