Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings has spoken glowingly about 17-year-old forward Brian Madjo, who marked his official debut for the club with a goal in the UEFA Super Cup against PSG, despite Villa narrowly losing 2-1.
Madjo, who joined from French side Metz in January 2026, faced a lengthy wait to make his bow due to legal issues regarding his international registration, which kept him sidelined for nearly eight months until the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld Villa's appeal in August.
After impressing with four goals in six pre-season fixtures, the young striker earned the trust of manager Unai Emery, securing a place in the starting line-up against PSG’s formidable centre-back duo of Marquinhos and Willian Pacho.
Mings highlighted Madjo's character and resilience:
He’s an excellent lad, a fantastic young man. He’s had to show immense patience before finally getting the chance to play, which speaks volumes about his character. At such a young age, he's incredibly strong physically, and mentally, he seems adept at handling setbacks.
He missed a couple of opportunities but then converted arguably the hardest one. You could see how much the whole team wanted him to score, and I’m genuinely pleased for him.
Before the match, I checked in to see how he was feeling. He admitted he was nervous — which is completely normal at 17 ahead of such a big occasion! But I reassured him that one good moment can change everything for a striker. I’m delighted he found the net.
Mings even joked about the physical presence of the 17-year-old:
Defending against him is no easy task. I reckon he weighs around 100 kilos! He's a big lad. He’s got an incredibly high ceiling for potential, and I hope this goal boosts his confidence.
Guidance for the young star
As Villa prepare to kick off their Premier League campaign against Brighton, key players like Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa, and Emiliano Martinez are set to return to the squad. Experienced forwards Ollie Watkins and Tammy Abraham are expected to be vital mentors for Madjo's development.
By scoring against PSG at the age of 17 years and 212 days, Brian Madjo has etched his name in history as the youngest goalscorer in UEFA Super Cup history, breaking the record previously held by Patrick Kluivert.
