‘Yoane Wissa left with our best wishes’ – Brentford chief on DR Congo striker’s move to Newcastle

Brentford technical director Phil Giles says Yoane Wissa departed the club with their best wishes despite the striker pushing hard to secure a move to Newcastle United before Monday’s transfer deadline.

The DR Congo international, who joined the Bees in 2021, developed into a key figure during his time in West London.

Initially deployed on the flanks, he gradually evolved into a central role and delivered a standout season last term, attracting the attention of top Premier League clubs.

“It’s been an interesting last few days and in fact, an interesting last few weeks,” Giles told the club’s official website.

“The big story is selling Yoane Wissa. He was a fantastic player for us, started off playing wide and evolved to take on the no.9 position and had a brilliant season last year.”

Giles was quick to stress that Wissa’s influence went beyond the pitch, praising his presence in the dressing room and bond with supporters.

“He was a really good, infectious character who was positive around the players and the fans. I personally liked him a lot as well, so there’s nothing but positive things to say about his performances on the pitch for us.”

The Brentford chief acknowledged that the transfer had moments of tension, with negotiations spilling into the public eye, but insisted the final decision was made in the club’s best interests.

“Transfers are always complicated. There’s always a little bit of emotion, friction and dialogue. That normally stays in house but obviously this one spilled out,” Giles admitted. “Nevertheless, it happened and we had to manage that.”

He added: “For me, fundamentally, when you have to make a decision about transfers, and complicated decisions — decisions which are impactful on the pitch and also off the pitch in terms of the club’s whole overall position — you need to stay focused on what is the right decision for the club.”