{"id":263839,"first_name":"Aaron","last_name":"Wan-Bissaka","short_name":"A. Wan-Bissaka","common_name":"Aaron Wan-Bissaka","place_of_birth":"Croydon, Borough of London","gender":"male","height":182,"weight":72,"status":"active","createdAt":"2024-11-07T06:54:03.847Z","updatedAt":"2025-06-04T07:02:08.884Z","locale":"en","age":27,"stb_id":"aaron-wan-bissaka","description":null,"tier":null,"common_name_en":"Aaron Wan-Bissaka","top_position":null,"introduction":"**Aaron Wan-Bissaka** is a lightning-quick English right-back currently plying his trade at \"West Ham United FC\". Standing at 182 centimeters tall, Wan-Bissaka has built a reputation as one of the Premier League's most formidable one-on-one defenders. His tackling ability is often described as phenomenal by pundits and fans alike. The 27-year-old has steadily risen through English footbal over the past decade, showcasing remarkable defensive prowess that has earned him spots at some of England's biggest clubs.","early_life_and_career":"Born in Croydon, England on November 26, 1997, Wan-Bissaka began his journey in the beautiful game at a young age. He joined the \"Crystal Palace\" academy when he was just eleven years old. Interestingly, he didn't start as a defender. Wan-Bissaka initially played as a winger before eventually converting to the right-back position. This conversion would prove to be a masterstroke for his carrer. \n\nHis development at Palace was steady and promising. The yeam's coaches quickly noticed his exceptional defensive instincts, even though he was still learning the position. His senior debut finally came in February 2018 against \"Tottenham Hotspur\", where he showed glimpses of the defender he would become. That season marked his breakthrough, and by the 2018-19 campaign, he had established himself as a regular starter. His performances were so impressive that he snagged the Crystal Palace Player of the Year award that season – quite an achievement for a young defender in his first full professional season.","professional_career_and_highlights":"After impressing at \"Crystal Palace\", Wan-Bissaka caught the eye of \"Manchester United\", who splashed out around £50 million to secure his services in 2019. The price tag was hefty, but it reflected his potential and proven Premier League quality. At United, he quickly became the first-choice right-back. His defensive solidity was a welcome addition to a team that had been struggling with consistency in that position.\n\nWan-Bissaka spent five seasons at Old Trafford, making an impressive 190 appearances across all comps. During his time with the Red Devils, he tasted silverware twice – winning the FA Cup in 2024 and the EFL Cup (also known as the Carabao Cup) in 2023. His performances in Europe didn't go unnoticed either, as he was named in the UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season for the 2020/21 campaign.\n\nIn August 2024, he embarked on a new chapter, signing a seven-year contract with \"West Ham United\". The lengthy contract demonstrated the Hammers' faith in him. He didn't wait long to make an impact, scoring his first goal for the club in November 2024 against \"Newcastle\". The goal was a rare offensive contribution from a player known primarily for his defensive skills.","playing_style_and_skills":"On the pitch, Wan-Bissaka is recognized as a defensive specialist with few peers when it comes to one-on-one situations. His tackling technique is nearly flawless – precise, well-timed, and incredibly effective. Many attackers who think they've gotten past him suddenly find the ball nicked away by his long legs, earning him the nickname \"Spider\" from some fans. His tackling stats consistently rank among the best in the Premier League.\n\nHe posseses good pace which allows him to recover quickly when caught out of position. His positioning has improved significantly since his early days, though it remains an area he continues to refine. While primarily valued for his defensive work, Wan-Bissaka's offensive contribution has been a point of criticsm throughout his career. His crossing and final-third decision-making don't quite match his defensive excellence.\n\nWhat sets him apart from many modern fullbacks is his preference for defending rather than attacking. In an era where overlapping fullbacks who can cross and create are highly valued, Wan-Bissaka is somewhat of a throwback – a defender who truly enjoys the art of defending. He reads the game well and rarely dives into tackles, preferring to stay on his feet and use his exceptional timing.","notable_achievements":"Throughout his career, Wan-Bissaka has accumulated several noteworthy achievements. At \"Crystal Palace\", winning the Player of the Year award for the 2018-19 season was a significant milestone, especially considering he was just twenty-one years old at the time. This award highlighted his rapid development and importance to the team.\n\nAt \"Manchester United\", he added 2 major trophies to his cabinet – the FA Cup in 2024 and the EFL Cup in 2023. These team accolades were supplemented by individual recognition when he was selected for the UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season in 2020/21, placing him among Europe's elite right-backs.\n\nOn the international stage, his path has been somewhat complicated. He represented DR Congo at U20 level in 2015 before switching to England for the U20 and U21 teams. However, he has yet to receive a senior cap for either nation, despite his Premier League pedigree. This remains a curious omission given his defensive talents, particularly his one-v-one defending which is considered among the best in England's top flight.","impact_on_sport":"Wan-Bissaka's impact on modern footbal can be seen primarily through his specialist role as a defensive right-back in an era dominated by attacking fullbacks. While the position has evolved to emphasize offensive contributions, Wan-Bissaka has carved out a niche as a defender who excels in shutting down opposing wingers. His tackle success rate has consistently been among the highest in the Premier League, changing how teams approach attacking down his flank.\n\nHis transfer from \"Crystal Palace\" to \"Manchester United\" for approximately £50 million also highlighted the premium value placed on young, homegrown defensive talent in the Englsh transfer market. This move helped set a benchmark for subsequent transfers of promising defensive players.\n\nAt just 27 years of age and now at \"West Ham United\" on a long-term contract, Wan-Bissaka still has many years ahead to further develop his game and legacy. His career trajectory demonstrates the value of specialization in modern football. Rather than trying to be an all-rounder, he has focused on perfecting his defensive craft, becoming one of the most reliable one-on-one defenders in the Premier League. His story also serves as an inspiration for young players who might not be naturaly attacking-minded but can excel by honing specific defensive skills.","stb_internal_id":"01930566-ccd8-770e-8d82-e5903da000cb","overrides":null,"type_code":"defender","position_type_code":"defender","detailed_position_type_code":"right-back","roles":"player","has_biography":null,"has_membership_relations":null,"has_matches":null,"has_article_relations":null,"has_social_media_relations":null,"introduction_html":"

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a lightning-quick English right-back currently plying his trade at \"West Ham United FC\". Standing at 182 centimeters tall, Wan-Bissaka has built a reputation as one of the Premier League's most formidable one-on-one defenders. His tackling ability is often described as phenomenal by pundits and fans alike. The 27-year-old has steadily risen through English footbal over the past decade, showcasing remarkable defensive prowess that has earned him spots at some of England's biggest clubs.

\n","early_life_and_career_html":"

Born in Croydon, England on November 26, 1997, Wan-Bissaka began his journey in the beautiful game at a young age. He joined the \"Crystal Palace\" academy when he was just eleven years old. Interestingly, he didn't start as a defender. Wan-Bissaka initially played as a winger before eventually converting to the right-back position. This conversion would prove to be a masterstroke for his carrer.

His development at Palace was steady and promising. The yeam's coaches quickly noticed his exceptional defensive instincts, even though he was still learning the position. His senior debut finally came in February 2018 against \"Tottenham Hotspur\", where he showed glimpses of the defender he would become. That season marked his breakthrough, and by the 2018-19 campaign, he had established himself as a regular starter. His performances were so impressive that he snagged the Crystal Palace Player of the Year award that season – quite an achievement for a young defender in his first full professional season.

\n","professional_career_and_highlights_html":"

After impressing at \"Crystal Palace\", Wan-Bissaka caught the eye of \"Manchester United\", who splashed out around £50 million to secure his services in 2019. The price tag was hefty, but it reflected his potential and proven Premier League quality. At United, he quickly became the first-choice right-back. His defensive solidity was a welcome addition to a team that had been struggling with consistency in that position.

Wan-Bissaka spent five seasons at Old Trafford, making an impressive 190 appearances across all comps. During his time with the Red Devils, he tasted silverware twice – winning the FA Cup in 2024 and the EFL Cup (also known as the Carabao Cup) in 2023. His performances in Europe didn't go unnoticed either, as he was named in the UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season for the 2020/21 campaign.

In August 2024, he embarked on a new chapter, signing a seven-year contract with \"West Ham United\". The lengthy contract demonstrated the Hammers' faith in him. He didn't wait long to make an impact, scoring his first goal for the club in November 2024 against \"Newcastle\". The goal was a rare offensive contribution from a player known primarily for his defensive skills.

\n","playing_style_and_skills_html":"

On the pitch, Wan-Bissaka is recognized as a defensive specialist with few peers when it comes to one-on-one situations. His tackling technique is nearly flawless – precise, well-timed, and incredibly effective. Many attackers who think they've gotten past him suddenly find the ball nicked away by his long legs, earning him the nickname \"Spider\" from some fans. His tackling stats consistently rank among the best in the Premier League.

He posseses good pace which allows him to recover quickly when caught out of position. His positioning has improved significantly since his early days, though it remains an area he continues to refine. While primarily valued for his defensive work, Wan-Bissaka's offensive contribution has been a point of criticsm throughout his career. His crossing and final-third decision-making don't quite match his defensive excellence.

What sets him apart from many modern fullbacks is his preference for defending rather than attacking. In an era where overlapping fullbacks who can cross and create are highly valued, Wan-Bissaka is somewhat of a throwback – a defender who truly enjoys the art of defending. He reads the game well and rarely dives into tackles, preferring to stay on his feet and use his exceptional timing.

\n","notable_achievements_html":"

Throughout his career, Wan-Bissaka has accumulated several noteworthy achievements. At \"Crystal Palace\", winning the Player of the Year award for the 2018-19 season was a significant milestone, especially considering he was just twenty-one years old at the time. This award highlighted his rapid development and importance to the team.

At \"Manchester United\", he added 2 major trophies to his cabinet – the FA Cup in 2024 and the EFL Cup in 2023. These team accolades were supplemented by individual recognition when he was selected for the UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season in 2020/21, placing him among Europe's elite right-backs.

On the international stage, his path has been somewhat complicated. He represented DR Congo at U20 level in 2015 before switching to England for the U20 and U21 teams. However, he has yet to receive a senior cap for either nation, despite his Premier League pedigree. This remains a curious omission given his defensive talents, particularly his one-v-one defending which is considered among the best in England's top flight.

\n","impact_on_sport_html":"

Wan-Bissaka's impact on modern footbal can be seen primarily through his specialist role as a defensive right-back in an era dominated by attacking fullbacks. While the position has evolved to emphasize offensive contributions, Wan-Bissaka has carved out a niche as a defender who excels in shutting down opposing wingers. His tackle success rate has consistently been among the highest in the Premier League, changing how teams approach attacking down his flank.

His transfer from \"Crystal Palace\" to \"Manchester United\" for approximately £50 million also highlighted the premium value placed on young, homegrown defensive talent in the Englsh transfer market. This move helped set a benchmark for subsequent transfers of promising defensive players.

At just 27 years of age and now at \"West Ham United\" on a long-term contract, Wan-Bissaka still has many years ahead to further develop his game and legacy. His career trajectory demonstrates the value of specialization in modern football. Rather than trying to be an all-rounder, he has focused on perfecting his defensive craft, becoming one of the most reliable one-on-one defenders in the Premier League. His story also serves as an inspiration for young players who might not be naturaly attacking-minded but can excel by honing specific defensive skills.

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Aaron Wan-Bissaka: Career