West Ham weighing up options after Aaron Wan-Bissaka 'detained' in DR Congo

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Evening Standard

·7 April 2026

West Ham weighing up options after Aaron Wan-Bissaka 'detained' in DR Congo

Hammers right-back missed FA Cup defeat to Leeds due to World Cup celebrations

West Ham are assessing their options but remain calm about the situation that saw Aaron Wan-Bissaka miss Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final after being kept in DR Congo.

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The defender missed the penalty shootout defeat to Leeds after the Congolese FA insisted on keeping the national team squad in the capital Kinshasa to celebrate with DR Congo’s president Felix Tshisekedi after they beat Jamaica to qualify for their first World Cup since 1974.

Reports have since suggested that West Ham have lodged a complaint and sought compensation from FIFA after DR Congo did not release Wan-Bissaka in time, but Standard Sport understands West Ham were expecting him back later than other international players anyway.

The Hammers already foresaw that might make him a doubt for the Leeds game.

Wan-Bissaka is now back at West Ham

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A return to the UK late on Friday night is what West Ham had originally anticipated.

Wan-Bissaka was then given permission to return later, and was back in training with the first-team squad on Tuesday.

The right-back has not been punished by the club, who accept he was under DR Congo’s supervision when the celebration with President Tshisekedi was planned at short notice.

Wan-Bissaka played the full match of the play-off final against Jamaica last week.

West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo is expected to be asked about the matter in his press conference on Wednesday ahead of Friday’s crunch match against Wolves.

Wan-Bissaka is in contention to feature at the London Stadium in that game.