At a glance
- Wissa continues to be left out
- Woltemade comments are unnecessary
- There is still time left for the 29-year-old
Nick Woltemade was labelled the ‘worst signing in Premier League history’ by talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham a few weeks back, yet he may not have even been Newcastle United’s worst signing last summer.
Yoane Wissa has endured a difficult start to life on Tyneside. While it is also unfair to claim he is one of the worst signings in the league’s history, the signs have not been positive for the DR Congo international so far.
There is still plenty of time left in this season and over the course of his contract. But has failed to live up to the fee and has struggled far more than his German teammate.
From the Bees to the bench
Many Newcastle supporters were pleased when the forward joined the club in the summer from Brentford, after a drawn-out process. He eventually joined on deadline in a £55 million deal.
Many questioned the fee. Although the Magpies landed a player they chased all summer, making him the fifth most expensive signing in the club’s history. Scrutiny arose because he had one year left on his deal at the Bees, and at 29, he isn’t exactly a long-term acquisition.
Another issue was that he arrived with a serious knee injury, which would rule him out until December. He missed a large part of the season while Eddie Howe’s side struggled to find consistency.
Since his return, though, Wissa hasn’t immediately made an impact that would make him stand out to Howe. He has made 12 Premier League appearances, but he’s only started four.
In those 12 games, he has found the back of the net once and has failed to get an assist. However, it’s not just the numbers that have let him down.
| Yoane Wissa (2025/26 Premier League) | Stats |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 12 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Shots per game | 0.4 |
| Goals per game | 0.08 |
| Big chances missed | 3 |
| Possession lost per game | 3.1 |
| Accurate passes per game | 4.3 |
| Successful dribbles per game | 0.08 |
Some supporters online have criticised his lack of intensity and effort on the pitch, which is a must for anyone who wears the Black and White shirt. He was one of the Premier League’s best attackers last season, but has been non-existent this term.
Harsh on Woltemade?
The talk of Woltemade being one of the ‘worst signings’ is too harsh, given what the German has offered. He lost his starting role in the team’s frontline, although he recently returned from illness and started in a famous Stamford Bridge win on Saturday (March 14th).
Howe has opted to use the striker in a midfield position, which hasn’t worked to his strengths. Many fans argue that this system is hurting Woltemade’s ability, which he showed at the beginning of the season, when he scored seven in his first 14 Premier League matches.
Howe did something similar with Joelinton, as he originally started out as a centre-forward, yet a difficult start led to his development into a key player in the midfield, something Woltemade hasn’t been able to do.
“Nick Woltemade, I am going to say this – is the worst signing in Premier League history. This isn’t anything against him, it isn’t personal. But £65-70million for one of those, and we’ve got to delve deeper” – Adrian Durham.
If Newcastle decide to keep the German, they should either use him as a frontman that drops into space to unleash the team’s wingers, or as a No 10 to become a creator for the team. His link-up play is impressive, and he works hard.
Newcastle fans won’t have quickly forgotten the signs Woltemade showed at the beginning of the season. His age may allow Howe to find the best system to fit their record transfer into, even if that takes a bit of time.
Wissa still has time
Wissa still has opportunities to turn things around at St James’ Park after his tough start. Truth be told, aside from Malick Thiaw, every other summer signing has stumbled since arriving.
Newcastle haven’t been able to find their attacking form as often this season as they have in previous. Players who have been at the club for a few years at this stage, such as Anthony Gordon, arguably haven’t hit their usual high standards.
The Toon Army prides itself on supporting its players through thick and thin, but if you can’t provide the effort that they expect, it’s hard to get on their side. The complaints directed at Wissa recently have showcased this.
Wissa, who Alan Shearer recently raised concerns over, himself will know that he hasn’t performed to the level the fans expect, and he’s at the peak of his career. He needs to begin capturing the imagination of Newcastle supporters, as they did in August.
