Can Brian Madjo play for England? Situation explained after Luxembourg caps | OneFootball

Aston Villa’s 17-year-old striking sensation is also eligible for Cameroon

Teenage striker Brian Madjo could hardly have made a better first impression, scoring against back-to-back Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain on his competitive debut for Aston Villa.

Unai Emery’s side may have lost the UEFA Super Cup clash thanks to two wonderful goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue, but in 17-year-old Madjo, they have a star in the making after he became the youngest player ever to score in the fixture.

The imposing centre-forward, who stands at 6 foot 4 inches tall, dominated arguably the most imperious centre-back pairing in Europe in Marquinhos and Willian Pacho, and could realistically have scored four times before the break.

Remarkably, his goal, which levelled proceedings just before half-time in Salzburg, was the hardest of the four chances presented to him as he held off Pacho at the back post to volley home from John McGinn’s cross.

The Villa captain had earlier put two headed chances on a plate for Madjo, and for a while it seemed as though Villa’s much-rotated side would not get their reward for a brave and industrious performance.

Madjo, though, was determined and had been causing PSG problems all night with his bruising physicality.

This was a statement performance from the young man, who was desperate to impress after waiting 212 days to make his competitive bow for Villa.

Madjo first signed for Villa in a shock £10million deal from Ligue 2 side Metz back in January.

However, they were barred by FIFA from registering him until they won an appeal through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) earlier this month.

Having won their appeal, Emery threw Madjo straight into the action against PSG and was quickly repaid as Europa League holders Villa took the game to Luis Enrique’s all-conquering side.

Madjo’s registration issues stem from the fact that although he was born in Enfield, he was raised from a young age in Luxembourg before moving to France.

Under FIFA rules, players aged under 18 cannot complete international transfers, but Villa successfully argued that Madjo should be exempt because he was born in London.

That means Madjo is obviously eligible to play for England, despite already featuring in three non-competitive senior games for Luxembourg last year.

Despite also being eligible to play for Cameroon, the country of his parents’ birth, Madjo has already switched his allegiance to England, scoring four goals in nine appearances for the Under-17s and featuring at last summer’s U17 European Championship in Albania.

Having expertly deputised for Ollie Watkins in the Super Cup, Madjo will now have his sights set on making an impression in the Premier League.

The young striker could be in line to take Watkins’ place at club and international level if he continues to showcase the same level of performance he produced against PSG.