Aston Villa win CAS appeal on registration ban for exciting young striker

Villa can register starlet Brian Madjo after winning an appeal against a registration ban in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

A FIFA ruling against the overseas transfers of minors aged under 18 has seen exciting striker Madjo unable to represent Villa’s first-team in a competitive fixture.

But Madjo can now feature for Villa in the Premier League, Champions League and domestic cup competitions, if selected, after the legal victory.

Madjo, who is 17 and turns 18 in January, moved to Villa Park from French Ligue 1 side Metz for a fee of around £10million in January.

The powerful frontman was likely to head out on loan for the first half of the new campaign as he was ruled unable to feature in league or cup for Unai Emery’s side until his 18th birthday.

World football governing body FIFA rejected his registration due to ruling Madjo’s arrival as an international transfer.

Madjo was born in London and has played youth international football for England but moved to Luxembourg at a young age and now has three senior caps for the nation.

The striker had been left in limbo as Villa believed he should be exempt from the registration ban - and the club have now been successful with the court ruling from Switzerland after last month’s hearing.

Madjo, who stands at 6ft 4ins, has caught the eye of supporters with four goals in pre-season and Villa will now weigh up the teen’s next steps.