Aston Villa Wins CAS Appeal to Register Brian Madjo

Aston Villa has successfully registered teenage striker Brian Madjo after winning an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, ending a seven-month legal battle that had blocked the player from competitive action. The club announced the ruling on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, clearing the 17-year-old to feature in Premier League and Champions League matches immediately.

Madjo, who was born in Enfield, London, and is a UK citizen, signed from French club Metz on January 12, 2026, for a reported fee of approximately 10 million pounds. However, FIFA had blocked his registration under its Article 19 regulations, which restrict international transfers for players under the age of 18. The governing body considered him a foreign player because he moved to Luxembourg as a child, represented Luxembourg at senior international level, and had not yet turned 18.

Villa appealed the decision, with a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport taking place on July 1, 2026. The court upheld the club's appeal on Tuesday, finding sufficient grounds to overturn FIFA's initial ruling. This allows Madjo to be registered and play competitively well before his 18th birthday on January 12, 2027....