Wrexham Near Permanent Signing of Issa Kabore from Manchester City
Wrexham are closing in on the permanent signing of Issa Kabore from Manchester City, turning last season’s loan success story into a long-term bet on a player who has already become a crowd favourite in North Wales.
The Burkina Faso international, who is 25, lit up Wrexham’s first campaign back in the Championship, making 32 appearances in all competitions in 2025-26. From right wing-back he delivered eight assists in the league – more than any of his team-mates – and gave Phil Parkinson’s side a constant outlet on the flank.
From Etihad nearly-man to Wrexham mainstay
Kabore’s move will finally end a curious chapter at Manchester City. Signed from Mechelen in 2020, he never played a senior minute for the Premier League champions. Instead, his career became a tour of Europe: back to Mechelen, then Troyes, Marseille, Luton Town, Benfica, Werder Bremen and, at the end of last summer’s window, Wrexham.
Seven loans. No breakthrough. Now, at last, a permanent home.
He did not waste time making his mark. On his debut at Carrow Road, Kabore produced two assists in a breathless 3-2 win over Norwich City, immediately stamping his authority on Wrexham’s right side. From there, he was a fixture in Parkinson’s XI, his pace and delivery central to the Red Dragons’ attacking identity.
The momentum stalled in November. A hamstring injury on international duty with Burkina Faso forced him out just as he had settled into a rhythm. The lay-off was long enough to raise questions about how quickly he could regain his edge.
Kabore answered them on the biggest stage available to him. He returned to action at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, then slotted back into Wrexham’s side for the second half of the season and again played a prominent role as the club secured a seventh-place finish in their first second-tier campaign in 43 years.
He leaves City as a 55-cap international, a player with experience in Belgium, France, England, Portugal and Germany, yet one whose real footballing identity has only truly taken shape in Wrexham red.
Parkinson builds around his wing-backs
Parkinson’s summer business has been clear and deliberate. Danny Imray has arrived to strengthen the full-back department, Anthony Patterson has come in to compete in goal, and Ben Whiteman has been added to the heart of midfield.
Kabore’s permanent signing would be another key piece in a system that leans heavily on its wing-backs. The manager has been open about wanting more depth and dynamism in those roles, and the club are also exploring a move for left-back Jacques Ekomie from Angers.
The recruitment drive is not limited to the flanks. A centre-back and an attacking midfielder are also on the radar before the 23:00 BST transfer deadline on 1 September, as Wrexham look to turn last season’s surprise into something more sustained.
For Kabore, this move represents stability after years of uncertainty. For Wrexham, it’s a statement that last season’s charge into the top half of the Championship was not a one-off.
The next chapter starts on Friday night at the Racecourse Ground, under the lights against Birmingham City at 20:00 BST – and all signs point to Kabore being part of the long-term story, not just a memorable cameo.
