West Ham United have lodged a formal complaint with FIFA, claiming that DR Congo did not approve Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s release to return to his club ahead of their FA Cup quarter-final clash with Leeds United, according to nytimes.com.
The 27-year-old right-back missed West Ham’s penalty shootout defeat on Sunday after playing a key role in DR Congo’s historic qualification for the World Cup, their first since 1974.
The African nation beat Jamaica in the intercontinental playoff final in Mexico, then returned to Kinshasa to celebrate with President Felix Tshisekedi.
Sources familiar with the matter, speaking anonymously to preserve relationships, revealed that West Ham had not permitted Wan-Bissaka to remain in DR Congo for the celebrations.
“The club had a flight scheduled for the defender to travel back to London, but he did not turn up,” they said.
Wan-Bissaka, who joined West Ham from Manchester United for £15 million in August 2024 on a seven-year contract, switched his international allegiance from England, where he never made a senior appearance, to DR Congo and has played nine times for the nation since September.
This season, the defender has recorded three assists in 22 Premier League appearances for West Ham.
He was also named the club’s player of the year in 2024-25 and has been a regular starter under head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
In his absence against Leeds, Kyle Walker-Peters, who joined after his Southampton contract expired last summer, filled in at right-back.
Walker-Peters is expected to return for Friday’s crucial league clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
West Ham currently sit in the relegation zone, one point behind 17th-place Tottenham Hotspur.
A win for Nuno’s men could see Tottenham slip into the bottom three for the first time this season.
