Yoane Wissa has officially finalised his £55 million ($74m) transfer to Newcastle United, giving manager Eddie Howe the new No.9 he had been pursuing throughout the summer as a replacement for Alexander Isak.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Newcastle United have announced the capture of Yoane Wissa from Brentford, ending a lengthy transfer pursuit. According to reports, the Magpies have paid £55 million ($74.5m) to secure the signature of the DR Congo international forward. The 28-year-old attacker has agreed to a four-year contract that will keep him at St. James’ Park until 2028.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Eddie Howe experienced a challenging transfer window, with unsuccessful attempts to sign Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko. The arrival of Wissa, along with record acquisition Nick Woltemade, provides Newcastle with two fresh attacking options. Both players are expected to share the burden of replacing Alexander Isak, who departed for Liverpool in a £130 million move.

DID YOU KNOW?

Wissa leaves Brentford after netting 49 goals in 149 appearances for the West London side. His relationship with the club deteriorated during pre-season when he exited their training camp and later deleted all Brentford-related content from his social media profiles. The Congolese striker scored 19 Premier League goals last season, showcasing his ability to perform consistently at the top level.

WHAT NEXT FOR WISSA?

The DR Congo international will join his new teammates immediately as Newcastle prepare for their Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, September 13. Eddie Howe will be eager for Wissa to settle quickly and help mitigate the loss of Isak with his goal-scoring prowess. Meanwhile, Brentford now face the task of identifying and securing a suitable replacement before the next transfer window opens.