Aston Villa takes FIFA to CAS in a bid to unblock registration for 17-year-old Madjo

Aston Villa took on FIFA in sports’ top court on Wednesday to try to register a 17-year-old forward who has been denied permission to play this year.

Villa spent a reported €12 million to sign north London-born Brian Madjo from French club Metz in January but failed to land him on the market.

FIFA blocked Madjo’s registration because transfer rules restrict international transfers for players under the age of 18. The former Luxembourg international turns 18 in January.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Villa’s appeal hearing was proceeding as scheduled, but did not give a target date for a ruling.

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Villa will play in the Champions League next season and the deadline for registering a squad list of players with UEFA is September 2. The deadline for Premier League squad lists is also after the transfer window closes on September 1.

Madjo last played a league match for Metz in Ligue 1 in December.

He played in three friendlies with the senior Luxembourg team in 2025 and then moved on to England at under-17 level.

FIFA allows exemptions for some minor players to make transfers, including if a 16 or 17 year old moves “within the territory of the European Union”. Great Britain is no longer a member of the EU.

Published on July 1, 2026