Wrexham Set to Sign Issa Kabore Permanently from Manchester City

Wrexham are closing in on the permanent signing of Issa Kabore from Manchester City, turning last season’s standout loan into a long-term bet on a player who has already become central to their rise.

The Burkina Faso international, who lit up the right flank in the Championship last season, played 32 times in all competitions for the Red Dragons in 2025-26. He did more than just fill a gap. His eight league assists were the highest in the squad, a constant source of delivery and drive from wing-back in Phil Parkinson’s aggressive system.

This move would finally end a curious chapter in Kabore’s career. Signed by Man City from Mechelen in 2020, he never played a senior minute for the Premier League champions. Instead, his time in England became a tour of Europe: loans at Mechelen again, then Troyes, Marseille, Luton Town, Benfica and Werder Bremen, before Wrexham swooped on transfer deadline day last September.

Wrexham got their reward almost instantly. Kabore produced two assists on his debut in a wild 3-2 win at Norwich City, announcing himself as a perfect fit for the club’s high-tempo, front-foot approach. From that night at Carrow Road, he looked less like a short-term fix and more like a player the club could build around.

He became a fixture under Parkinson until November, when a hamstring injury on international duty halted his momentum. The setback came just as he was finding full rhythm, a blow for both club and country. Kabore’s route back ran through the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where he made his long-awaited return for Burkina Faso, adding to an already impressive tally that now stands at 55 caps.

Once fit, he slotted straight back into Wrexham’s side for the second half of the campaign, again operating as a marauding right wing-back rather than a traditional full-back. His pace, stamina and delivery gave Wrexham width and penetration, crucial in a season where they finished seventh in the Championship in their first second-tier campaign for 43 years.

Now, after seven loan spells and no first-team appearance at Etihad Stadium, the 25-year-old is on the brink of a permanent exit from Man City. For Kabore, it offers stability and a defined role. For Wrexham, it’s a chance to lock in a player who already understands the demands, the crowd, and the expectations.

Parkinson has been busy reshaping his squad for the next step. Full-back Danny Imray, goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and midfielder Ben Whiteman have already arrived this summer, strengthening the spine and the depth. The manager has made no secret of his desire to reinforce the wing-back positions, and Kabore’s signing would go a long way to settling that area.

The recruitment drive is not expected to stop there. Wrexham are also exploring a deal for left-back Jacques Ekomie from Angers, as they seek balance on both flanks. A centre-back and an attacking midfielder could yet follow before the 23:00 BST transfer deadline on 1 September, with Parkinson keen to ensure his side are equipped for another push in a fiercely competitive division.

For now, attention turns to the Racecourse Ground, where Wrexham open their new campaign against Birmingham City on Friday night (20:00 BST). If Kabore’s permanent move is completed in time, the club’s most productive provider from last season could soon be running out in red again — this time, not as a loanee passing through, but as a cornerstone of Wrexham’s ambitious Championship project.