Fabrizio Romano has shared some eye-catching Aston Villa transfer news this afternoon as Unai Emery’s side win a competitive race for a January signing.
It comes as a timely lift after Villa’s title ambitions suffered a setback following last night’s frustrating draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Emery’s men dropped valuable points in a match they largely controlled, failing to turn sustained pressure into a victory that would have kept them firmly in the Premier League title hunt alongside Arsenal and Manchester City.
The result leaves Villa third in the table, now six points behind leaders Arsenal having played the same number of fixtures.
That gap represents a significant challenge going into the second half of the campaign, especially with Arsenal showing little sign of loosening their grip at the summit.
Emery’s frustration was evident during his post-match media duties.
The Spaniard highlighted his side’s lack of ruthlessness in the final third, stressing the need to convert dominance into goals rather than allowing opponents to escape with points.
Villa created plenty against Palace but lacked the sharpness required to break down Oliver Glasner’s well-organised defence.
Those dropped points only heightened concerns about Villa’s ability to maintain a title push across a congested fixture schedule.
Villa remain active in multiple competitions, including the Europa League, putting considerable strain on a squad that needs added depth.
Behind the scenes, NSWE have been working to address those concerns, both immediately and with a longer-term outlook.
Now, according to Romano, Villa have moved decisively to secure one of France’s most highly-rated teenage prospects — beating Crystal Palace to his signature in the process.
Aston Villa beat Crystal Palace to Brian Madjo signing:
Villa have agreed a deal to sign 16-year-old Brian Madjo from FC Metz for £10.5 million, seeing off interest from several clubs, including Crystal Palace.
The 2009-born midfielder had attracted attention from Palace’s recruitment team, with Oliver Glasner’s side understood to be closely monitoring his development. However, Villa moved swiftly and quietly to take control of the situation.
Romano described the move as a “surprise” signing, with Villa’s recruitment department operating under the radar to finalise the agreement ahead of their Premier League rivals.
The deal has now reached the “here we go” stage, with full agreement between the clubs and personal terms settled with the player’s representatives.
Villa have secured Madjo on a five-year contract running until 2030, underlining their long-term commitment to developing elite young talent.
A medical has been scheduled, and the youngster is expected to complete the remaining formalities in the coming days.
Villa’s success in beating Palace to Madjo highlights the growing pull of the project at Villa Park.
Under their current ownership, the club has developed a strong reputation for identifying and nurturing emerging talent, with a clear pathway from recruitment to first-team opportunities.
Madjo follows Brazilian prodigy Alysson to the Midlands, who agreed to join Villa shortly before the January window opened — another example of the club moving assertively in the market while rivals are left behind.