Yoane Wissa

Yoane Wissa (born 3 September 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker or left winger for club Newcastle United. Born in France, he represents the DR Congo national team.

A product of the Châteauroux academy, Wissa began his senior career with the club in 2015. Following a spell with Angers, he moved to Lorient in 2018. He was a part of their team that finished the 2019–20 Ligue 2 season as champions. After one season in Ligue 1, he joined Brentford in 2021. After four seasons at Brentford, Wissa joined Newcastle United in 2025.

Club career Early years Wissa began his youth career as a goalkeeper at the age of seven. He played for his local youth club Épinay-sous-Sénart, before moving to midfield and then the forward line. As his youth career progressed, he also became adept as a winger and number 10. Wissa began his senior career as a forward with Châteauroux and progressed through the reserve team to break into the first team during the 2015–16 Championnat National season, which he finished with 24 appearances and seven goals. The transfer had been in the works for two years and he had turned down the opportunity to move to the Community Stadium during the previous transfer window. Despite being unable to link up with the club during pre-season after undergoing eye surgery, Wissa scored five goals in his first six appearances for the club.

His brace in a 7–0 EFL Cup third round win over Oldham Athletic on 21 September 2021 was recognised with a place in the EFL Cup Team of the Round and his second goal, a bicycle kick, was voted Goal of the Round and Goal of the Tournament. Wissa's goalscoring run was ended by an ankle knock suffered in mid-October 2021. He returned to match play two months later and was deployed in a mixture of starting and substitute roles through to the end of the season. In May 2023, he signed a new three-year contract, with the option of a further year. Following the transfer deadline day loan signing of forward Neal Maupay, Wissa alternated between the forward and left wing positions. Wissa top-scored for the club during the 2023–24 season, with 12 goals from 36 appearances, predominantly as a starter. He began the season with three goals from four Premier League starting appearances and three goals across four appearances in November 2024 saw him nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award. Wissa's 37th Premier League goal, scored in a 2–2 draw with Manchester City on 14 January 2025, made him the club's record Premier League goalscorer. He ended the 2024–25 season with 39 appearances and a season-high 20 goals. Later that year, on 6 December, he made his debut in a 2–1 victory over Burnley, becoming the 1000th player to represent the club in the league. A few days later, on 10 December, he made his UEFA Champions League debut, coming on in the stoppage time of a 2–2 away draw against Bayer Leverkusen.

A week later, on 17 December, he scored his first goal for the club in the EFL Cup quarter-final, which ended in a 2–1 victory over Fulham. On 30 December, he netted his first league goal for the club in a 3–1 away victory over Burnley. On 21 January 2026, he scored his first Champions League goal in a 3–0 victory over PSV Eindhoven.

International career Wissa won his maiden call into the DR Congo squad for a pair of friendly matches in October 2020. He scored his first two international goals on his second and third caps, in friendly and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches versus Morocco respectively. He appeared in each match and scored two goals during the team's run to the third place play-off, Wissa's performances were recognised with a place in the Team of the Tournament. He scored DR Congo's first-ever FIFA World Cup goal in their 1–1 draw against Portugal in the opening group stage match on 17 June, earning the country its first point in the tournament. On 27 June, he scored a brace and earned Man of the Match award in a 3–1 victory over Uzbekistan, securing his nation's first-ever World Cup win and qualification for the knockout stage. In addition, he became the fourth African player to score three goals in a World Cup group stage, following Papa Bouba Diop in 2002, and both Ismael Saibari and Ismaïla Sarr earlier in the tournament. Wissa nearly scored another goal during DR Congo's round of 32 match against England on 1 July, but the ball hit the right-side goalpost. DR Congo ultimately lost to England.

Style of play Wissa has been described as a player who "fits many different positions", including winger, number 10 and forward.

Personal life Born in France of Congolese descent, Wissa can speak the Lingala language. He acquired French nationality in December 2000 through the collective effect of his parents' naturalisation.

Prior to making the decision to concentrate on football at age 15, he also played rugby union. an award from the University of Portsmouth.

Wissa is Practicing Muslim.

Career statistics Club

International

Scores and results list DR Congo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Wissa goal.

25 March 2022 Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, DR Congo

2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

15 November 2023 Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, DR Congo

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

17 January 2024 Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pédro, Ivory Coast

2023 Africa Cup of Nations

2 February 2024 Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

2023 Africa Cup of Nations

8 June 2025 Stade de la Source, Orléans, France

Friendly

5 September 2025 Juba Stadium, Juba, South Sudan

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

9 September 2025 Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, DR Congo

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

25 March 2026 Estadio Akron, Guadalajara, Mexico

Friendly

17 June 2026 NRG Stadium, Houston, United States

2026 FIFA World Cup

Honours Lorient Ligue 2: 2019–20