Yoane Wissa

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. A transfer to Ligue 1 club Angers followed in 2016, but Wissa managed just two substitute appearances during the first half of the 2016–17 season and he played much of 2017 away on loan at Ligue 2 clubs Laval and Ajaccio. Wissa departed the Stade Raymond Kopa in January 2018.

Lorient

In January 2018, Wissa transferred to Ligue 2 club Lorient and immediately established himself at the promotion-chasing club. Promotion to Ligue 1 was attained at the end of the 2019–20 season, when Wissa's 15 goals in 28 appearances helped the club to the Ligue 2 championship. He made 38 appearances and scored 10 goals during the 2020–21 season, in which Lorient narrowly avoided finishing in the relegation playoff places. Wissa departed the club in August 2021 and finished his 3+1⁄2-year stay at the Stade du Moustoir with 128 appearances and 37 goals.

Brentford

2021–22

On 10 August 2021, Wissa moved to England to join newly-promoted Premier League club Brentford on…

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. Wissa was a part of the DR Congo squad which qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and he was named in the squad for the tournament finals. He appeared in each match and scored two goals during the team's run to the third place play-off, which was lost on penalties to South Africa. Wissa's performances were recognised with a place in the Team of the Tournament. On 19 May 2026, he was included in the 26-man squad selected by head coach Sébastien Desabre to represent the DR Congo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 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…

Wissa has been described as a player who "fits many different positions", including winger, number 10 and forward. He has "pace and power", is "a threat in behind", "has good ability to take on players and create overloads" and "good pressing abilities". At Brentford, along with Bryan Mbeumo, he formed a lethal duo with 39 Premier League goals between each other in the 2024/2025 season.

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. He was the subject of an acid attack in July 2021 and made a full recovery from emergency eye surgery. In September 2025 he graduated from the PFA Business School with a Postgraduate Diploma in Global Football Business Management, an award from the University of Portsmouth. Wissa is Practicing Muslim.