Premier League star opens up on isolation and admits 'I had no one apart from my PlayStation'

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has revealed his struggles with loneliness during his time at , admitting he "had no one apart from my PlayStation" before making a move to West Ham this summer.

The 26 year old right-back, who was once considered one of the finest, made a $58 million switch from to Old Trafford in 2019.

Despite playing 100 games in his first two seasons, he found himself falling out of favour under various managers including Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and , starting only 20 times last season. Speaking to the Standard, Wan-Bissaka opened up about his difficult adjustment to life in Manchester, where his video game console became a source of solace.

He said: "It was difficult. Very difficult. I went [to Manchester] on my own and it was my first time moving away from home. I had no one up there, apart from my PlayStation."

He also spoke about the challenges of living in a smaller city like Manchester, where "everyone's aware of everything that's happening", requiring mental strength to avoid negativity. Despite these struggles, Wan-Bissaka, who had only debuted for his boyhood club Palace 18 months prior to joining United, said he took the risk for what could have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Wan-Bissaka opened up about his departure from Manchester United, noting the move was seen as mutually positive. "I spoke to the club and they thought this opportunity was best for me," he shared.

He took some time to consider it, and though the decision wasn't instant, he recalls: "They gave me some time to think about it. In the moment, I didn't, but I spoke to family and friends about it and we all decided it was the right time."

Since relocating to London to join West Ham, he seems to have found his footing, having made a strong impression by starting in eight of their first ten Premier League matches, despite the team's struggles under Julen Lopetegui.

During his stint with United, Wan-Bissaka racked up 190 appearances and scooped up two trophies. Nonetheless, his displays were not quite persuasive enough for ex-England manager Gareth Southgate to award him a senior national team cap.