Wrexham's Double Swoop: Kabore and Ekomie Set to Join
Wrexham are closing in on a statement double swoop, with Issa Kabore set to join permanently from Manchester City and Jacques Ekomie lined up to strengthen the opposite flank.
Kabore, a standout performer on loan last season, looks finally ready to cut the cord with City after seven temporary moves and no senior appearance at the Etihad. The 25-year-old right-back, who operated as a relentless wing-back under Phil Parkinson, is poised to sign a deal worth up to £4.75m. City have protected their long-term interests with a 20% sell-on clause and matching rights, but the player’s future now lies in north Wales.
For Wrexham, it is a move that rewards impact, not reputation. Kabore featured 32 times across all competitions in 2025-26 and was a driving force down the right. His eight Championship assists were more than any other Wrexham player, underlining just how central he became to Parkinson’s attacking blueprint.
Impact on the Field
The start set the tone. On his debut at Carrow Road, Kabore delivered two assists in a breathless 3-2 win over Norwich City, immediately announcing himself as a key outlet. From there he became a fixture in the side, only halted by a hamstring injury picked up with Burkina Faso during the November international break.
That setback stalled his momentum, but not for long. Kabore returned to action for his country at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, then slotted back into the Wrexham side for the run-in, again featuring prominently as the Red Dragons pushed through the second half of the campaign. For a club still adjusting to life in the Championship, his energy and delivery down the flank were non-negotiable.
Long Journey
Kabore’s journey to this point has been long and winding. He joined Manchester City from Mechelen in 2020, immediately went back to the Belgian club on loan, and then bounced around Europe: Troyes, Marseille, Luton Town, Benfica, Werder Bremen. Wrexham were his seventh loan destination when they snapped him up on transfer deadline day last September. Now, at last, he is on the brink of a permanent home.
On the other side of the pitch, Wrexham are moving for Ekomie to address a problem that never quite went away last season. The Gabon international left-back, currently with Angers, is in the final year of his contract and has attracted interest from West Ham United and Hamburg. Wrexham, though, are pushing hard to bring him to the Racecourse Ground.
Addressing Needs
The need is clear. Liberato Cacace arrived from Empoli in the summer of 2025 with high expectations but has been dogged by injuries in north Wales. With Cacace struggling for consistent fitness, Parkinson has been short of reliable, natural left-sided options in a system that leans heavily on its wing-backs.
Ekomie would change that picture. His arrival would add balance to a defensive unit being carefully rebuilt. The Gabon defender and Kabore are expected to join full-back Danny Imray, goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and midfielder Ben Whiteman as part of a targeted summer recruitment drive aimed at solidifying Wrexham’s Championship status and pushing standards higher.
For Kabore, the move finally closes a chapter at Manchester City that never truly began on the pitch. For Wrexham, it locks in one of last season’s most influential performers and pairs him with a new threat on the opposite flank.
If the deals go through as expected, Parkinson will walk into pre-season with the kind of full-back depth and dynamism that can reshape a campaign.
