Aston Villa are still waiting to register Brian Madjo with FIFA currently blocking the move until he turns 18 in January 2027.
The 17-year-old striker joined Villa from Metz this winter in a deal worth £10m and FIFA classify his move as an international transfer.
Article 19 of their rules states players can’t switch to an overseas club until they turn 18, yet Aston Villa have sought early registration by pointing to the fact Madjo was born in England.
Villa Exploring All Arguments and Avenues
The teenager grew up in Luxembourg and does not turn 18 until January 12, 2027, meaning he could have to wait almost a year to be registered.
FIFA have to date rejected Villa’s request to make an exception, but Unai Emery’s side are still exploring all arguments and avenues. Prior to Brexit, English clubs could ask for an EU exemption to sign overseas players.
Madjo has been called up to England’s Under-17 side and won three caps for Luxembourg, who he represented at Under-16 level. He is also eligible for Cameroon through his parents,
Madjo had only made five Ligue 1 appearances for Metz prior to his transfer to Villa, having come through the French club’s highly-regarded Academy. He is a tall and physical striker, who has drawn comparisons to Romelu Lukaku.
Manchester United are said to have made an enquiry over one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League as they sound out potential alternatives for Mateus Fernandes. The Red Devils are going to sign a deep-lying midfielder this summer as they look to replace the outgoing Casemiro.
United enjoyed a solid season of last, with Michael Carrick leading them to a third-place finish, earning a full-time deal in the process. Carrick will now be backed in the market, and the midfield is a big priority despite the early signing of Ederson from Atalanta.
West Ham star Mateus Fernandes appears to be option number one, but amid competition from Tottenham and a rising price, it seems the Red Devils may be lining up a pricy alternative.
Bruno Guimaraes enquiry emerges
According to TeamTalk, United are one of a number of clubs to have asked about the availability of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian only has two years remaining on his Newcastle deal, and there is no breakthrough in contract talks as things stand, potentially opening the door to a move.
It’s also claimed Guimaraes has doubts over his Newcastle future after the Magpies finished in the bottom half last season, and he naturally wants to compete at the very highest level. That, according to the report, has led his representatives to hold some early conversations with other clubs, something United are said to have explored.
But with Guimaraes clearly only of the best players in the league in his position, he is likely to cost big money this summer, and likely more than the £80million or so it will cost to grab Fernandes from West Ham. It’s also likely to be a much trickier deal to pull off, given Newcastle could lose Tonali this summer. If they do, it’s likely they will do all they can to avoid losing another of their starting midfielders.
Guimaraes described as a ‘complete’ player
via Reuters
According to stat gurus Squawka, Guimaraes is ‘the Premier League’s most complete midfielder’, and there is heavy competition with the likes of Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Rodri. While some of those other names dominate specific stats, Guimaraes competes the best when it comes to a combination of them all, given he plays a more hybrid role which also allows him to get forward.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has said of the Brazilian: “He is a special player, a special person and a special character.”
There have been claims that Guimaraes has a release clause in his current contract, although some suggest a previous release clause has already expired.
A WWE superstar has sent social media into a frenzy after posing nude with their Championship title belt in a now-viral Instagram post this week.
Of course, there are plenty of ways to celebrate being a champion, and in the world of professional wrestling – where glitz, glamour and larger-than-life personalities are part and parcel of the job – stars are rarely shy about showing off their success.
The post, shared on Thursday afternoon, featured a carousel of more than 10 images documenting what has clearly been a memorable few weeks. Alongside family snaps, WWE photos and various behind-the-scenes moments, there was one picture in particular that immediately caught fans’ attention.
The photo went viral after Elimination Chamber 2026…
WWE Superstar Goes Viral After Posing Nude With Championship
WWE Tag Team champion Montez Ford flashed a new way to rock the big gold in his latest social media post. In a now viral carousel post, Ford is seen carrying the WWE tag team gold in nothing. He wrote (see the full post below):
“Dad’s A Champ Again Son. Your Mom Is Still Beautiful. The Whole World Is Waiting For You. Saw You Wednesday And The Doctor Said You’re Right On Track. God Is Good.”
Thankfully, the World Tag Team Championship covers his cojones, but the Street Profits star can be seen nude in what appears to be a FaceTime screenshot with his wife, fellow WWE superstar Bianca Belair. And, at the time of writing, the post is nearing 75,000 likes already, with a further 500 comments and 1,700 shares.
There’s been a noticeable change in Punk’s physique…
Montez Ford’s Tag Team Success
Montez Ford
Montez Ford won the World Tag Team Championships alongside Angelo Dawkins on the June 22 episode of RAW. The Streets Profits, with a fair bit of assistance from Seth Rollins, defeated The Vision for the coveted titles.
The tag team duos squared off at Saturday Night Main Event on May 23. That night, The Vision retained the titles, but Ford and his tag-team partner have since taken them back to start their fourth reign as champions.
US soccer cult hero Alexi Lalas is hoping that one member of the current United States national team can build on an already impressive club legacy with a convincing showing at the 2026 World Cup.
Lalas represented the United States at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, as well as the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. After winning gold at the 1991 Pan American Games, Lalas won the 1995 US Cup, leading to him being named US Soccer Athlete of the Year. He finished his international career with 96 caps and is still well regarded by US football fans.
But as the United States looks to complete a memorable home campaign, Lalas has pinned his hopes on one standout individual who he believes can become the greatest American football player his country has ever produced.
Alexi Lalas’ Pick for Greatest American Soccer Player
United States players via Reuters/Blake Dahlin
In recent decades, the debate for America’s all-time greatest player has come down to two: Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. And whilst Dempsey’s personality and consistent success in the Premier League have won him many admirers, Lalas prefers the former Bayern Munich and Everton star.
“I think when it comes right down to it, in a World Cup game for the country, if you have Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey standing there, I’m going to pick Landon Donovan,” said Lalas. “Now, in a bar fight or a street game, I’m going to pick Clint Dempsey.”
However, the recent success of Christian Pulisic has changed the FOX analyst’s opinion. Pulisic has hit double figures with goal contributions in each of his three seasons at AC Milan. And after his starring role in a 3-0 victory over Udinese last season, Lalas argued that Pulisic is the Rossoneri’s star player currently.
“I think you are looking at it certainly right now, and if you need any more proof, this game is it, that he is an elite player in Serie A. He is, I think, arguably the best player for AC Milan,” stated Lalas on his State of the Union podcast.
Having picked up major honours at Milan, Borussia Dortmund, and Chelsea, including the Champions League and the Club World Cup with the latter, Pulisic is the most decorated US footballer at European level. But he may need more international success to convince the US supporters.
Including Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, and Christian Pulisic, the best USMNT players of all time have been ranked.
The Mount Rushmore of American Soccer
Kiyoshi Mio via Reuters
Donovan and Dempsey are worthy candidates, and are currently America’s joint all-time leading goalscorers on 57. Donovan also played a starring role in USMNT’s best modern run at a World Cup, making the quarterfinals in 2002. Dempsey, meanwhile, was the first American player to score at three different World Cups.
The United States goalkeepers, Tim Howard and Brad Friedel, also enjoyed highly successful careers in the Premier League and represented their country admirably on the global stage.
Donovan and Friedel’s teammate Claudio Reyna is also fondly remembered, having made the World Cup All Star Team in 2002, as well as finding success in the Premier League and the Bundesliga.
Alexi Lalas’ old teammates Cobi Jones, Jeff Agoos, and Marcelo Balboa can throw their hats in the ring for their international success alone. And Michael Bradley, America’s 151-cap man, followed an eerily similar path to Pulisic, travelling to the Bundesliga, then the Premier League, before winding up in Serie A at Roma.
But with almost a century of appearances and sustained successes in several of Europe’s top leagues, at just 27, Pulisic is still the man to beat. If the USA can add an unlikely World Cup winners’ medal to his cabinet, his legacy will surely be set in stone.
