“I opened the door and acid was thrown in my face” - recalls Yoane Wissa

The shocking story of Yoane Wissa.

Newcastle's new striker, Yoane Wissa, is today a name associated with multi-million-pound transfers, goals in the Premier League, and high hopes for Champions League duels. However, behind this success lies a story that transcends football. The story of a man who survived a horror that still makes him tremble today.

Wissa, 29 years old, born in France and an international player for the Congo, arrived at Newcastle from Brentford for a staggering €57.7 million. Already next Thursday, the biggest game of his career awaits him – the clash against Barcelona in the Champions League. However, just four years ago, he was in a completely different place – in a hospital bed, acid-burned, fearing for his life and that of his family.

Attack on the family's home

It was the summer of 2021, and Wissa was then wearing the Lorient jersey and making his way to the top of French football, just two years after having played for the modest Chambly in front of just over 3,000 spectators. That day, a woman knocked on his door asking for an autograph. When he opened it, hell broke loose.

"I opened the door and something was splashed on my face. I screamed and couldn't breathe. My wife called the emergency services and they told me to take a shower and wash my eyes. At the hospital, they told me my eyes were burned. Someone had to come and wash them every hour. It was a nightmare."

The woman who attacked him tried to kidnap his son. She ended up being sentenced to 18 years in prison, but the trauma remained.

Panic at every noise

Wissa underwent surgeries on both eyes, and the doctors told him that he would have to use eye drops for the rest of his life.

"Since then, I panic every time I hear a noise. The only thing that calms me down is knowing that my children are safe. Both my eyes were operated on, and the doctor told me that I will have to use eye drops for the rest of my life. It took six months for my vision to return. If I hadn't received immediate help, the consequences would have been much more serious."

"I no longer sleep alone"

These were not the only consequences of the attack.

"Since then, I have become more reserved. I can no longer stand being surrounded by people I don't know. I no longer show as much affection as before. When I walk, I instinctively look behind me. At night, I can no longer sleep if I'm lying alone. My children often ask me what happened to my face, but they are still too young to tell. I was offered plastic surgery, but all this is part of my personal story. My wife and I had to go to psychologists, and she suffered from depression. One never knows what fate has in store."

His transfer to Brentford was delayed due to the injury, but when he finally played – he became one of the most dangerous forwards in the Premier League. In 149 games, he scored 49 goals and provided 13 assists.

However, Wissa's departure from Brentford was not peaceful. Wissa forced his move to Newcastle this summer, just as Alexander Isak did when he wanted to transfer to Liverpool. The pressure on the club was immense – from public appeals not to block him to actions on social media, where he deleted all traces related to Brentford.

In the end, he got what he wanted. Today, the Congolese is a player for Newcastle.