Aston Villa's 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo has been cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to play competitive fixtures for the club. This ruling resolves a disagreement between Villa and FIFA regarding whether Madjo, signed from Metz for £10m in January, qualified as a home purchase or an international transfer.
If classified as an international transfer, Madjo, a minor, would not have been eligible to play until his 18th birthday in January. While awaiting the verdict, the 6ft4in striker scored four goals in pre-season friendlies against Walsall, Real Sociedad, and Indonesia All Stars.
Following his clearance, Madjo became the youngest player ever to start in UEFA’s annual amuse-bouche. He then went on to become the youngest to score in the same fixture against Paris Saint-Germain, converting a volley from a tight angle.