Yoane Wissa:  Profile

Who Is Yoane Wissa?

Yoane Wissa is a professional forward who plays for Newcastle United in the Premier League and represents the Democratic Republic of Congo at international level. Born on September 3, 1996, in Epinay-sous-Senart in the Paris suburbs, he grew up in France of Congolese heritage and took a patient, determined path through French football before becoming one of the Premier League's most reliable goalscorers.

He is 29 years old in 2026 and has had one of the more remarkable career arcs in recent English football. He joined Brentford in 2021 for GBP 8.5 million following a horrific acid attack that nearly ended his career before it properly started in England. He recovered from emergency eye surgery and then scored five goals in his first six matches for the club. Over four seasons at Brentford, he became the club's record Premier League goalscorer. Newcastle United then paid GBP 50 million plus add-ons to sign him in September 2025.

He is a forward with real versatility, able to play as a centre-forward or on the left wing. He is known for his pace, power, pressing, and goalscoring ability. His 19 Premier League goals for Brentford in the 2024/25 season established him as one of the most dangerous attackers in the division, alongside Bryan Mbeumo, the two of them combining for 40 Premier League goals between them that year.

Yoane Wissa Net Worth and Salary in 2026

Yoane Wissa has seen his earnings grow significantly through his career, culminating in the lucrative Newcastle United contract he signed in August 2025. Icon Polls estimates his net worth in 2026 is between $15 million and $18 million, reflecting his career earnings across French football, four seasons at Brentford, and his new Newcastle deal.

His current contract at Newcastle United pays him approximately GBP 7.3 million gross per year, equating to around GBP 140,000 per week. He can also earn up to GBP 1 million per year in performance bonuses. The deal runs until June 30, 2029, making the total potential gross value approximately GBP 33 million over four years. This contract was confirmed by journalist David Ornstein.

His earnings at Brentford were significantly lower. He had been earning GBP 25,000 per week in the early years of his Brentford career, rising over time. The move to Newcastle has more than quintupled his weekly earnings, reflecting how far his stock rose during the 2024/25 season when he became one of the most productive forwards in the Premier League.

His current market value at Newcastle sits at approximately EUR 26 million, which is lower than the GBP 50 million Newcastle paid for him. This drop reflects his inconsistent form in a Newcastle shirt in the opening months at the club, where he struggled for consistent minutes under Eddie Howe.

Yoane Wissa Wife

Yoane Wissa married Kahina Wissa in November 2021, just months after his Premier League move to Brentford and his recovery from the acid attack. Their wedding marked a significant chapter in both their lives and, in some ways, the beginning of the most settled and successful period of his football career.

Kahina is of French Algerian heritage. She has been with Yoane since the early days of his professional career in French football, long before anyone in England knew his name. Their relationship began during his time in France and she has been a constant, grounding presence throughout his journey from the lower reaches of French football to the Premier League.

She is notably private and does not seek the spotlight that comes with being a footballer's wife. Her Instagram profile is private and she rarely gives interviews. What multiple sources confirm is that she was central to Yoane's recovery after the acid attack in July 2021, supporting him through the emergency eye surgery and rehabilitation process that preceded his Brentford move. She also taught him English at home when he first arrived in London, which helped him integrate into the new country more quickly.

The couple have two children together: a son born in 2020 and a daughter born in 2022. The family moved from London to Newcastle following Wissa's transfer to Newcastle United in September 2025, continuing the pattern of Kahina supporting and adapting alongside her husband's career wherever it takes them.

Yoane Wissa Country

Yoane Wissa was born in France but represents the Democratic Republic of Congo at international level. He was born in Epinay-sous-Senart in the Ile-de-France region and acquired French nationality through his parents' naturalisation in December 2000. He could technically have represented France internationally, but made the personal decision to play for the DR Congo, the country his parents are from and where his cultural roots lie.

His choice to represent DR Congo was an emotional one. He has spoken about how his mother cried when she found out he was going to play at the Africa Cup of Nations. That reaction captures what representing the DR Congo meant to the family, particularly given that his parents were originally from the country and Yoane was the one who could now carry that flag at the highest level.

He speaks Lingala, the Congolese language, which is a direct connection to his heritage. His first international call-up came in October 2020, and he scored his first two international goals in his second and third caps. He has been a regular in the DR Congo national team and has represented his country at the Africa Cup of Nations.

His dual identity as a French-born Congolese player reflects the experience of many players in the modern game who grew up in European countries but identify strongly with their parents' African heritage. The choice he made has clearly been the right one for him personally.

Yoane Wissa Parents

Yoane Wissa's parents are from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They relocated to France and settled in the Paris suburb of Epinay-sous-Senart, where Yoane was born and raised. Their specific names have not been publicly confirmed, and they are widely referred to simply as Mr and Mrs Wissa.

His family is clearly close-knit and football runs in it. His brother Eli Wissa is also a professional footballer, which shows that the sport was part of the family culture growing up. Having a sibling who pursued the same career provides a natural shared understanding of what the professional football life demands.

His parents' decision to move from the DR Congo to France and build a life there gave Yoane the opportunity to access European football from a young age. He joined his local youth club Epinay-sous-Senart at seven, initially as a goalkeeper, before progressing through different positions and eventually becoming the forward that caught the attention of scouts in the Chateauroux area. None of that would have been possible without the family choosing to make their life in France.

Yoane Wissa Religion

Yoane Wissa is a Christian. His faith is rooted in his family's Congolese heritage, where Christianity is the dominant religion. The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most Christian nations in Africa, and the values of family, faith, and community that underpin his character reflect that cultural background.

He does not make extensive public statements about his personal faith, but his conduct, his loyalty to his wife and family, his commitment to representing his parents' country of origin, and the way he has handled difficult personal experiences like the acid attack, all point to a person with a strong personal and spiritual foundation.

The Acid Attack: A Career-Defining Moment

One of the most significant and rarely fully discussed events in Yoane Wissa's life took place in July 2021, just weeks before he was due to sign for Brentford and begin his Premier League career. He was the victim of an acid attack at his home in France. A woman sprayed him with a corrosive liquid, causing serious eye injuries that required emergency surgery.

He made a full recovery, but the incident forced him to delay his Brentford medical and miss the club's pre-season entirely. The mental strength required to recover from that kind of attack and then immediately move to a new country and perform at Premier League level within weeks is remarkable. He scored five goals in his first six appearances for Brentford that season.

His wife Kahina's role in supporting him through that recovery has been acknowledged in multiple accounts of the period. The timing of their marriage just months later, in November 2021, felt like a statement of moving forward together after the worst period of their lives.

Yoane Wissa Transfer History and Career

2015: Senior debut with Chateauroux (Championnat National)

2016: Moved to Angers, spending time with Angers B before first-team opportunities

January 2018: Transferred to Lorient (Ligue 2)

2019/20: Scored 15 goals in 28 appearances to help Lorient win the Ligue 2 championship and gain promotion

2020/21: Scored 10 goals in 38 appearances for Lorient in Ligue 1

August 2021: Joined Brentford for GBP 8.5 million from Lorient, four-year contract

January 2025: Record 37th Premier League goal for Brentford vs Manchester City, becoming club record PL scorer

2024/25: Scored 19 Premier League goals alongside Bryan Mbeumo's 21, the pair combining for 40 PL goals

September 1, 2025: Transferred to Newcastle United for GBP 50 million plus add-ons, four-year contract

December 6, 2025: Brentford debut at Newcastle, became 1000th league player for the club vs Burnley

January 21, 2026: Scored first Champions League goal for Newcastle vs PSV Eindhoven (3-0 win)

Frequently Asked Questions About Yoane Wissa (2026)

1. What is Yoane Wissa's net worth in 2026?

Icon Polls estimates his net worth is between $15 million and $18 million in 2026. This reflects his career earnings across French football with Chateauroux, Angers and Lorient, four seasons at Brentford, and his new lucrative Newcastle United contract signed in August 2025.

2. How much does Yoane Wissa earn at Newcastle?

His estimated gross annual salary at Newcastle United is approximately GBP 7.3 million per year, equating to around GBP 140,000 per week. He can also earn up to GBP 1 million per year in performance bonuses. His four-year contract runs until June 30, 2029.

3. Who is Yoane Wissa's wife?

He is married to Kahina Wissa, a woman of French Algerian heritage. They married in November 2021. Kahina has been with Yoane since the early stages of his career in French football and was central to his recovery after the 2021 acid attack. She taught him English when he first arrived in London and the couple have two children together.

4. What country does Yoane Wissa play for?

He plays for the Democratic Republic of Congo national team. He was born in France and holds French nationality through his parents' naturalisation, but made the personal decision to represent DR Congo internationally. He speaks Lingala and his parents are originally from the DR Congo.

5. Where is Yoane Wissa from?

He was born on September 3, 1996, in Epinay-sous-Senart, a suburb in the Ile-de-France region south of Paris. His parents are originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and settled in France before he was born.

6. What religion is Yoane Wissa?

He is a Christian. His faith is rooted in his Congolese family heritage, where Christianity is the predominant religion in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He does not make extensive public statements about his faith but his values and conduct are consistent with a strong Christian background.

7. Who are Yoane Wissa's parents?

His parents are from the Democratic Republic of Congo and relocated to France before Yoane was born. Their specific names have not been publicly confirmed. They instilled in Yoane a deep connection to his Congolese heritage, which ultimately led him to choose to represent DR Congo over France internationally.

8. Does Yoane Wissa have a brother?

Yes. His brother Eli Wissa is also a professional footballer. Having a sibling in professional football reflects the sporting culture within the Wissa family and likely contributed to both brothers pursuing careers in the game.

9. How much did Newcastle pay for Yoane Wissa?

Newcastle United paid GBP 50 million plus add-ons to Brentford for Wissa on September 1, 2025. The deal was completed on deadline day with reports suggesting Newcastle's representative had to sprint through the training ground to get final documents signed before the window closed.

10. What is Yoane Wissa's record at Brentford?

He became Brentford's record Premier League goalscorer, surpassing the previous record with his 37th Premier League goal in a 2-2 draw with Manchester City on January 14, 2025. He scored 19 Premier League goals in the 2024/25 season and 54 goals in total across all competitions during his four seasons at the club.

11. What was the acid attack on Yoane Wissa?

In July 2021, Wissa was the victim of an acid attack at his home in France, just weeks before his scheduled move to Brentford. A woman sprayed him with a corrosive liquid causing serious eye injuries that required emergency surgery. He made a full recovery and was supported through the rehabilitation by his wife Kahina. Despite missing pre-season, he scored five goals in his first six Brentford appearances.

12. How many children does Yoane Wissa have?

He has two children with his wife Kahina: a son born in 2020 and a daughter born in 2022. The family initially lived in London during his Brentford years before relocating to Newcastle following his transfer to the club in September 2025.

13. Why did Yoane Wissa choose DR Congo over France?

He chose to represent the DR Congo because that is where his family roots lie. His parents are from the DR Congo and he speaks Lingala, the Congolese language. The emotional connection to his heritage was more important to him than representing France, the country of his birth. He has described how emotional his mother was when he told her he would play at the Africa Cup of Nations.

14. Did Yoane Wissa play in the Champions League?

Yes. He made his Champions League debut for Newcastle United on December 10, 2025, in a 2-2 draw against Bayer Leverkusen. He then scored his first Champions League goal on January 21, 2026, in a 3-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven.

15. What position does Yoane Wissa play?

He plays primarily as a centre-forward or left winger, with the ability to drop into a number 10 role. He has been described as a player who fits many different positions, with pace, power, pressing ability, and the technical quality to take on players and create overloads. His versatility has been one of his most valuable assets throughout his career.

16. What clubs has Yoane Wissa played for?

His career clubs include Chateauroux (from 2015), Angers and Angers B (from 2016), Lorient (from January 2018), Brentford (August 2021 to September 2025), and Newcastle United (September 2025 to present).

17. What trophy has Yoane Wissa won?

He won the Ligue 2 championship in the 2019/20 season with Lorient. His 15 goals in 28 appearances were instrumental in Lorient winning the second division title and gaining promotion to Ligue 1. This remains his only significant club honour.

18. What languages does Yoane Wissa speak?

He speaks French as his primary language, having been born and educated in France. He also speaks Lingala, the Congolese language passed down through his family's DR Congo heritage. His wife Kahina taught him English when he moved to London in 2021.

19. How is Yoane Wissa performing at Newcastle?

His first season at Newcastle has been inconsistent. He scored one Premier League goal from 13 appearances, and his market value dropped from the GBP 37 million estimated at the time of signing to approximately EUR 26 million. Manager Eddie Howe has publicly stated that Wissa needs to perform when given opportunities, while confirming he is fully fit. His Champions League goal in January 2026 was a positive sign.

20. How did Yoane Wissa and Kahina meet?

They met during the early stages of his career in French football, before he had established himself at any significant level. The exact circumstances have not been publicly detailed, but their relationship began while he was still developing as a player in the lower reaches of the French football pyramid. They went on to marry in November 2021.

Yoane Wissa's story has a lot of layers to it. He grew up in a Paris suburb to Congolese parents, started as a goalkeeper, nearly had his career ended before it reached its peak, married a woman who supported him through the hardest period of his life, became Brentford's record Premier League scorer, and moved to Newcastle for GBP 50 million. At 29, he is at a point in his career where he needs to show what he can do in a bigger environment.

His net worth between $15 million and $18 million is a fair reflection of where his career earnings stand. His Newcastle salary pushes his weekly earnings to a level that would have seemed unimaginable during his Lorient years. His family and faith remain the constants that ground him.

Icon Polls will continue tracking Yoane Wissa's career at Newcastle, his DR Congo international commitments, and the ongoing story of one of the Premier League's most resilient and quietly underrated figures.