Newcastle United have dramatically bolstered their attacking options by completing a £55 million move for Brentford’s striker Yoane Wissa—securing the deal in the dying moments of the summer transfer window, just as Alexander Isak departed for Liverpool in a British-record £125 million move.
The 28-year-old DR Congo international, who netted an impressive 19 Premier League goals last season, joins Newcastle after a lengthy and increasingly publicized transfer saga.
Wissa will don Newcastle’s iconic No. 9 jersey—once worn by club legend Alan Shearer—representing both the club’s ambition and the immediate need to reinvigorate their frontline following Isak’s record switch to Liverpool.
The path to this agreement was far from smooth. Newcastle had pursued Wissa throughout the summer, with multiple offers reportedly going in—including bids around £25 million, then £30 million plus add-ons, and later roughly £35 million. Brentford consistently held firm, initially rejecting all approaches.
Frustration grew on both sides. Wissa publicly voiced his discontent and desire to move, even withdrawing from Brentford’s pre-season training camp and deleting traces of the club from his social media. Reports even surfaced that his representatives were exploring legal avenues to secure the transfer.
The deal finally came together late on deadline day, with media reporting the transfer was sealed just seconds before the window shut.
Upon confirmation of the transfer, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe expressed optimism: “Yoane is a player who we have admired for some time… He brings proven Premier League quality… his pace, power and an excellent work rate immediately make us stronger.”
Wissa, clearly thrilled by the opportunity, said, “I’m really happy to be here and to sign for one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League. I’m very, very excited to put on the black and white shirt. I’ve got dreams, I’ve got faith and now I will do my best to make it all happen. I can’t wait to get started.”
Not everyone was pleased, though. Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan criticized the move, describing the deal as overvalued, stating: “Brentford got £55 million for a player that’s not worth £55 million.”
Wissa’s journey to Newcastle has been a steady rise. Born in Épinay-sous-Sénart, France, and representing DR Congo internationally, he began his senior career at Châteauroux before moving to Lorient in 2018. He was instrumental in their promotion to Ligue 1, scoring 15 goals in 28 matches during the 2019–20 campaign.
In August 2021, Brentford signed Wissa for around £8.5 million. Over four seasons, he became one of their standout forwards—delivering consistent performances, including 39 goals in 2024–25 and becoming Brentford’s record Premier League scorer.
His emergence coincided with significant turnover at Brentford: head coach Thomas Frank departed for Tottenham, captain Christian Nørgaard joined Arsenal, Bryan Mbeumo moved to Manchester United, and the club signed Dango Ouattara as a replacement. This departure wave likely influenced Brentford’s willingness to negotiate on Wissa.
Newcastle’s transfer window has been nothing short of transformative. Wissa joins a string of significant signings, including Anthony Elanga (£55m), Malick Thiaw (£35m), Jacob Ramsey (£40m), and club-record acquisition Nick Woltemade (£69m), totaling approximately £254 million this summer.
Meanwhile, Alexander Isak’s exit for £125 million—another club record—has left a void that Wissa and Woltemade are now expected to fill. This flurry of activity signals Newcastle’s aggressive push to compete at the highest level domestically and in Europe.