Wrexham Nears Permanent Deal for Issa Kabore

Wrexham are set to make Issa Kabore a permanent fixture of their Championship push, with a deal close for the Manchester City right-back after his impressive loan spell in North Wales last season.

The Burkina Faso international became a key part of Phil Parkinson’s side in 2025-26, making 32 appearances in all competitions and driving Wrexham’s charge to a seventh-place finish in their first second-tier campaign for 43 years. Operating as an attacking wing-back, Kabore delivered eight assists in the Championship – more than any other Wrexham player.

He announced himself immediately. On debut at Carrow Road, Kabore set up two goals as Wrexham edged a 3-2 thriller against Norwich City, a performance that instantly justified the deadline-day move and underlined the energy and width he would bring down the right.

Parkinson leaned on him heavily after that. Kabore became a mainstay until a hamstring injury, picked up while on international duty with Burkina Faso during the November break, stalled his momentum. The setback kept him out for a significant spell, but he returned on the biggest stage for his country, featuring at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations before rejoining Wrexham’s promotion chase in the second half of the season.

Now 25, Kabore is finally on the brink of a permanent exit from Etihad Stadium after seven separate loan spells and not a single senior appearance for Manchester City. City signed him from Mechelen in 2020 and immediately sent him back to the Belgian club. Stints at Troyes, Marseille, Luton Town, Benfica and Werder Bremen followed, before Wrexham snapped him up on transfer deadline day last September.

His impact in North Wales has convinced Parkinson and the club’s hierarchy to move decisively. The manager has already reshaped parts of his squad this summer, bringing in full-back Danny Imray, goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and midfielder Ben Whiteman. Kabore’s arrival on a permanent basis would strengthen an area Parkinson has been keen to upgrade, with the wing-back roles central to Wrexham’s approach.

The recruitment drive is unlikely to stop there. Parkinson is open to adding a centre-back and an attacking midfielder before the 23:00 BST transfer deadline on 1 September, while Wrexham are also pursuing a deal for left-back Jacques Ekomie from French side Angers as they look to balance both flanks.

All of it feeds into a club still riding the surge of their rapid rise. Seventh place in the Championship at the first attempt has reset expectations around the Racecourse Ground. Birmingham City visit on Friday night (20:00 BST) as Wrexham return to action, and if Kabore’s permanent move is completed in time, the crowd may well be welcoming back not just a fan favourite, but a symbol of how far this team now intends to go.