‘Erling Haaland Blueprint!’ — Aston Villa Wonderkid Brian Madjo Told Where He Must Improve

Aston Villa teenager Brian Madjo has been urged to look towards Erling Haaland as he develops his game, with former England striker Emile Heskey identifying one area the 17-year-old must improve.

Madjo has suddenly become one of the most exciting young forwards in English football after announcing himself on the biggest stage with a goal against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup.

The teenager's performance has already sparked discussion about whether he could eventually become Harry Kane's successor for England, although that remains a long way away.

Madjo's breakthrough finally arrives

Madjo's rise has been anything but straightforward.

Born in Enfield, London, he moved to Luxembourg at a young age before developing through the football system there and eventually joining French club Metz.

Aston Villa signed him for around €12 million (£10m) in January 2026, but his competitive debut was delayed by a registration dispute involving FIFA's rules on international transfers of players under 18.

Villa argued that Madjo's place of birth should allow the move, eventually taking the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The club's appeal succeeded, clearing the way for him to feature.

His opportunity arrived in spectacular fashion.

Historic Super Cup debut

Madjo was handed his competitive debut against Champions League winners PSG in the UEFA Super Cup.

Despite Aston Villa eventually losing 2–1, the teenager immediately made his presence felt.

He scored Villa's equaliser shortly before half-time, becoming the youngest scorer in UEFA Super Cup history at 17 years and 212 days.

Madjo could also have added more.

His movement repeatedly caused problems for PSG's defence, and his physical presence allowed him to compete with experienced defenders despite his age.

That performance has understandably generated significant excitement around Villa Park.

Heskey identifies the next step

Former Aston Villa and England striker Emile Heskey believes Madjo has the physical and technical foundations to develop into a top-level striker.

However, he has also identified an area that needs work: his hold-up play.

That may sound like criticism, but Heskey's wider assessment was extremely positive.

The former striker pointed towards Madjo's ability to consistently find dangerous positions, noting that he could have scored several goals during the Super Cup.

For a young striker still learning the demands of senior football, improving his ability to receive and retain the ball with defenders around him could add another important dimension to his game.

Why Haaland is the perfect example

Heskey believes Manchester City's Erling Haaland can provide Madjo with an excellent blueprint.

The comparison is understandable.

Madjo stands around 6ft 4in and combines his size with mobility, pace and a natural instinct for finding space in the penalty area. Sky Sports has also highlighted similarities between the teenager's physical profile and that of powerful Premier League forwards such as Romelu Lukaku.

But Madjo does not need to become Haaland.

Instead, studying how the Norwegian striker uses his physical advantages could help the Villa youngster understand how to become more effective against experienced defenders.

The immediate priority is developing his all-round game rather than trying to live up to comparisons at just 17.

Could Madjo really replace Harry Kane?

That is the question generating the biggest excitement.

England will eventually need to replace Harry Kane, who is now 33 and has acknowledged uncertainty over whether he will still be playing at the 2030 World Cup.

Madjo's emergence therefore comes at an interesting time for the national team.

The teenager is also eligible to represent England after previously making three friendly appearances for Luxembourg.

Because those appearances were not competitive fixtures, he remains eligible under FIFA's rules and has already represented England at Under-17 level.

However, turning one impressive performance into an England senior career is an enormous leap.

Even Heskey acknowledged that England's shortage of natural centre-forwards is a wider issue, with modern football increasingly producing wide attackers rather than traditional No.9s.

For now, Madjo's job is much simpler: develop at Aston Villa.

Villa have a serious talent on their hands

Madjo's physical qualities have already attracted plenty of attention, but his mentality may be just as important.

Villa captain John McGinn praised the youngster after the PSG game, highlighting how well he handled the long period in which he was unable to play competitive football.

That patience could prove crucial.

Madjo is still only 17. He has enormous room for improvement, and his first-team opportunities will need to be managed carefully by Unai Emery.

With Ollie Watkins' future also attracting speculation, there could eventually be more opportunities for the teenager to make his Premier League breakthrough.

The pressure surrounding him will inevitably increase after his Super Cup goal.

The key will be ensuring that the hype does not become a burden.

Madjo does not need to be England's next Harry Kane today. He simply needs to become the best version of Brian Madjo.

If he can improve his hold-up play while maintaining the movement, physicality and finishing instincts that have already caught the eye, Villa may have a very exciting striker developing under their roof.

Fan Debate

⚽ GOAL: Can Brian Madjo become a future England No.9?

🔥 FIRE: Should Aston Villa give him regular first-team opportunities?

😲 SHOCK: Did his Super Cup performance surprise you?

👍 LIKE: Could Haaland be the perfect role model for his development?

💬 COMMENT: Is it too early to compare Madjo with Harry Kane?