It is that time of the year again. With the Premier League season less than a month away, the clubs are beginning to get a first look of how they are shaping up for 2026/27.
The exciting window before kickoff sees the air filled with hope and optimism. Fresh talents arrive at clubs with the promise of leaving a rich legacy, while fans helplessly buy into the hype. Every training session and pre-season friendly becomes an event.
The situation is no different for Aston Villa. The Birmingham club has found a fresh lease of life under the reign of Unai Emery, harking them back to the glory days of yore.
The Villains finished fourth last season to qualify for the Champions League for the second time in three years, before crowning the season by lifting the Europa League.
Despite some high-profile departures thereafter in Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Lucas Digne, the club has put the money acquired thus to good use.
Joao Gomes has joined for 30 million-plus from Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Ajejandro Garnacho has agreed to a loan contract to provide impetus down the wings.
Two 20-year-olds in World Cup’s breakout Swiss star Johan Manzambi and Senegalese defensive import from Cisse Modou Keba Cisse are also part of the list.
Yet, the one man raising most eyebrows is a signing they made in the winter.
17-year-old Brian Madjo has made his way to Birmingham after being bought in January. The striker of Luxembourg and English origin arrives from Ligue 1 side Metz after becoming their youngest ever debutant.
45 minutes into his Villa career, the striker is a hit already. Handed a 45-minute debut against Walsall in a friendly, Madjo made waves by scoring twice in a 5-0 win.
However, what bedazzled fans more than the goals is the sheer build of the man. They had already heard stories of Madjo’s strength when he comfortably battled grown men in the French league, but only got to witness it first-hand on Wednesday.
Huge 🙌#AVFC pic.twitter.com/zaOTJDmWRN
— Aston Villa Statto (@AVFCStatto) July 21, 2026
For the first of the evening against Walsall, Madjo bullied his way around his man in the box to finish off a cross.
If that was impressive, the second goal was outright bizarre. Madjo was struck flush by a fierce shot while running towards goal but the teenager barely flinched. Instead, he calmly waited for the bobbing ball to descend and slotted it past the keeper.
Madjo stands at a humungous 6 foot 4 inches according to most sources, with EA’s database listing him at an impressive 86 kg. Nearly all of it must be muscle weight, with Madjo appearing ripped from head to toe with little signs of any fat in his body.
For context, the numbers put Madjo at just an inch shorter than Erling Haaland and in the same weight bracket. The only difference being that the Manchester City striker is a fully developed 25-year-old while Madjo may still have another growth spurt to come.
In fact, despite his age Madjo might already be the tallest man at Villa, unless Tyrone Mings edges him by a couple of centimetres. Madjo becomes part of a growing group of giant marksmen in the Premier League, along the likes of Haaland, Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade, and Fulham’s Jonah Kusi-Asare.
Unlike most young arrivals, Madjo is already more than physically ready for the Premier League challenge. The question now is whether Villa are courageous enough to hand minutes to the Enfield-born.
