Yoane Wissa's Journey: From Adversity to Premier League Success
Yoane Wissa is on the verge of fulfilling his dream of playing in the Premier League.
However, just a month before his transfer to Brentford from Lorient in July 2021, his life took a terrifying turn.
Wissa was attacked at his home, where acid was thrown in his face, posing a serious risk to his sight and potentially ending his football career.
A woman was later convicted for the assault and for attempting to kidnap his daughter, receiving an 18-year prison sentence.
The trauma from this incident fueled Wissa's determination to succeed.
This was evident when then-Lorient manager Christophe Pelissier visited him in the hospital the day after the attack. "Despite being physically and mentally affected, Yoane quickly demonstrated his determination to succeed," Pelissier remarked. "What struck me was his strong will and refusal to give up."
Such resilience has been a hallmark of Wissa's career. In 2019, he played in front of crowds of fewer than 3,000 supporters while competing in the French second division with Chambly.
Fast forward to now, he is poised to face Barcelona in the Champions League after completing a protracted £55 million move from Brentford to Newcastle United.
His ascent has not surprised Pierre-Yves Hamel, a former teammate at Lorient. "After the attack, he never complained. He was eager to move forward, and his success today is a just reward for his efforts. Once Yoane sets his mind to something, he will do everything possible to achieve it, no matter how long it takes," Hamel stated.
Recently, Wissa was so determined to join Newcastle that he removed all references to Brentford from his Instagram account. In a statement last month, he urged Brentford to "keep their word" regarding his departure and accused the club of "unduly standing in my way."
Similarities have been drawn between Wissa's situation and that of Alexander Isak, who also sought a transfer. Both players were absent from their teams' opening matches of the season as they pushed for moves.
Brentford supporters expressed disappointment over Wissa's conduct during his transfer negotiations, paralleling the frustration felt by Newcastle fans regarding Isak's move to Liverpool.
Ian Westbrook, a Brentford fan writer for BBC Sport, emphasized that fans are not vindictive towards players who leave respectfully, as they understand the club's practice of selling players to bigger teams at opportune moments. He noted that former players like Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Norgaard, along with ex-manager Thomas Frank, will likely receive warm welcomes upon their return to Gtech Community Stadium, unlike Wissa.
"His legacy has been soured," Westbrook remarked. "There aren't many players who have treated Brentford this way."
Wissa has since addressed the nature of his exit. In an interview with Newcastle's media team, he asserted that he maintained respect for everyone at Brentford, stating, "That's why I kept myself fit, training, and being around every day, just waiting for the right moment to move."
Phil Giles, Brentford's director of football, acknowledged Wissa as an "infectious character" whom he appreciated, attempting to distinguish the forward's four years at the club from the circumstances surrounding his departure.
Newcastle conducted thorough research on Wissa. Head coach Eddie Howe focused on acquiring players who were "desperate" to join the club, especially after strikers Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko, and Joao Pedro opted for other teams. Wissa fit this profile perfectly.
Newcastle's persistence was evident as they made a third and final bid on deadline day instead of exploring alternative options. This marked a notable shift in their transfer policy, as they had not signed an outfield player over the age of 25 since Howe's first summer in charge in 2022.
Despite being 29, Wissa appears to be a late bloomer rather than entering the twilight of his career. His year-on-year improvement was highlighted by his achievement of scoring more non-penalty goals (19) than any other player in the Premier League last season.
Wissa's goal-scoring record, combined with his work rate off the ball, made him an appealing prospect for Newcastle, who had only one player reach double figures in goals last season—Isak.
Now, it will be up to Wissa, the club's number nine, and record signing Nick Woltemade to help fill the void left by Isak's departure. Julien Laporte, a former teammate at Lorient, believes Wissa's best is yet to come. "I'm proud to have played with someone like Yoane because he has had a great career. In my opinion, it’s not finished yet," he added.