Aaron Wan-Bissaka helped DR Congo reach the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup after officially changing his international allegiance from England to the African nation in August 2025. The right-back, born in Croydon, had represented England at youth level and received a senior call-up in 2019 but never played due to a back injury and intense competition.
Early Career and England Youth Caps
Wan-Bissaka was born in Croydon and initially played for England's under-20 and under-21 teams between 2018 and 2019. He earned his first senior England call-up from manager Gareth Southgate in August 2019 during the Euro 2020 qualifiers but withdrew due to a back injury before making an appearance.
Blocked Path to England Senior Team
Following his injury withdrawal, a massive bottleneck of elite talent blocked his path back into the England set-up. He faced intense competition from players such as Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier and Reece James, severely limiting his chances of earning a cap.
Congolese Heritage and Youth Experiment
Though born and raised in England, his heritage is deeply tied to the Democratic Republic of the Congo through his Congolese parents. This dual heritage meant he maintained valid administrative eligibility to play for the African nation. Wan-Bissaka had actually played a single game for the DR Congo under-20 team back in 2015 when he was a teenager in the Crystal Palace academy. That match resulted in a heavy 8-0 friendly defeat to England's under-17 side, after which he temporarily shifted his focus back to the English youth system.
Elite Club Career
At the club level, his high-profile career milestones naturally drew attention from both football associations. After breaking out at Crystal Palace, he earned a £50million move to Manchester United in 2019 before moving to West Ham United in 2024, consistently proving himself as one of the Premier League's best one-on-one defenders.
Formal Switch and Senior Debut
Recognising that his pathway to the England national team was heavily obstructed, the defender officially changed his international allegiance. In August 2025, FIFA approved his request to switch from England to represent DR Congo. He made his senior international debut for DR Congo on September 5, 2025, putting on a strong performance during a 4-1 victory over South Sudan in a crucial World Cup qualifier.
World Cup Success
After officially committing to the Leopards, he became a core pillar of their defence. He went on to star for the country at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. At the World Cup, he played in all three group games as DR Congo advanced to the knockout stage and booked a last-32 tie with England.
