'I can no longer get to sleep by myself' - Brentford hotshot Yoane Wissa tells court of acid attack trauma which nearly left him blind days before Bees transfer

The alleged attack occurred shortly before Wissa completed his £8.5m transfer from Lorient to Brentford. The accused, a 36-year-old woman identified as Laetitia P., is now standing trial in France. Alongside the acid attack charges, she faces allegations of attempting to kidnap Wissa’s infant daughter and abducting another woman’s baby the following day. If convicted, she could face up to 30 years in prison.

Wissa revealed that the woman had previously visited his Lorient home, claiming to seek an autograph. Trusting her intentions, he opened the door, only to have a liquid thrown in his face.

According toThe Sun, he said: "I opened a door and had liquid thrown in my face. I screamed and could not breathe. My wife called the emergency services, and they told me to get under the shower to rinse my eyes. At the hospital, they told me my eyes were burned. Someone had to come and rinse them out every hour. It has been a nightmare. Since then, I panic every time I hear a noise, and the only thing that kept me going was knowing my children are safe. I had surgery on both eyes, and the doctor told me I will need to use eye drops for the rest of my life. It took me six months before I fully got my sight back. Had I not been treated so quickly, the consequences would have been far worse."

The aftermath of the attack left deep emotional scars and Wissa described how the incident changed his life.

"Since that time I have become withdrawn. I can no longer tolerate being around people I don't know," he stated. "I don't now express as much love as I used to, and when I'm walking, I instinctively look behind me. And at night, I can no longer get to sleep if I am by myself. My kids often ask me what I have done to my face, but they are too young for me to tell them what happened. I have been offered an operation, but I have refused, as this is part of my personal history. My wife and I had to see a psychologist, and she suffered from depression. You never know what fate holds in store for you."

The attack disrupted Wissa’s career progression, delaying his move to Brentford and causing him to miss pre-season training. He now wants justice for the horrific incident that has had a lasting impact on his life.

"I want justice," he said. "Why has this happened to me? My wife and I will suffer the after-effects for the rest of our lives. This hugely delayed my move to Brentford. I missed their pre-season, and when I arrived, the manager [Thomas Frank] said he had already drawn up his first team."

As the trial unfolds, Wissa’s testimony sheds light on the physical and psychological toll of the attack, highlighting his resilience in overcoming unimaginable adversity. Despite the challenges, Wissa has managed to find form on the pitch. With 11 Premier League goals this season, he is currently one of Brentford’s standout players which has alerted the likes of Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. He is set to feature in a crucial match against Tottenham on Sunday.