Wrexham Set to Sign Issa Kabore and Jacques Ekomie Ahead of Summer Transfer Window Deadline
Wrexham prepares to finalize a permanent deal for Issa Kabore from Manchester City while also acquiring left-back Jacques Ekomie from French club Angers.
Burkina Faso international Kabore, who made 32 appearances for the Red Dragons in the 2025-26 season, led the team with eight assists in the Championship, a record for Wrexham last season. After multiple loan spells away from City, the 25-year-old appears ready to depart the Etihad Stadium for good.
The transfer agreement for Kabore amounts to approximately £4.75 million, which includes a 20% sell-on clause for City alongside matching rights. On the other hand, Ekomie recently entered the last year of his contract with Angers and has drawn attention from West Ham United and German club Hamburg.
Wrexham signed Liberato Cacace from Empoli in the summer of 2025; however, injuries have hindered his performance since joining. The addition of Ekomie would enhance Phil Parkinson’s options on the left side, as he and Kabore are expected to accompany new signings Danny Imray, goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, and midfielder Ben Whiteman this summer.
Kabore made an impressive debut for Wrexham, notching two assists in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road. He became a crucial player for Parkinson’s squad before suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty during the November break. Kabore returned to action with Burkina Faso at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and continued to play a vital role for Wrexham later in the season.
The defender joined Manchester City from Mechelen in 2020, immediately returning to the Belgian club on loan. His career has included loan spells at Troyes, Marseille, Luton Town, Benfica, and Werder Bremen before making his way to Wrexham on transfer deadline day in September last year.
As a right-back who operated as a wing-back last season, Kabore is poised to leave City without making a first-team appearance.
Ekomie began his professional journey with Bordeaux and moved to Angers in the summer of 2024. He made a total of 21 appearances across all competitions in his first season and became increasingly influential last season. In the 2025-26 campaign, he played in all but two of Angers’ Ligue 1 matches, starting 25 of his 32 appearances.
After Wrexham’s recent 1-1 draw with Watford, manager Parkinson addressed challenges in completing player deals, referring to the transfer window as a “difficult” one. He also cautioned that there were “no guarantees” of further squad enhancements before the transfer deadline at 23:00 BST on September 1.
With midfielder George Thomason stepping in as a makeshift wing-back during Cacace’s absence—caused by a lack of playing time last season—Wrexham aims to fortify their roster. Cacace has yet to feature in any of the Red Dragons’ matches this season but remains under contract for two more years.
As the summer transfer window draws to a close, Wrexham may seek to strengthen their midfield and forward positions before the deadline. The club’s next match is scheduled against Birmingham City at the Racecourse Ground on Friday night at 20:00 BST.
Wrexham are poised to sign Issa Kabore on a permanent deal from Manchester City in addition to bringing in left-back Jacques Ekomie from French side Angers.
Burkina Faso international Kabore featured 32 times across all competitions for the Red Dragons in 2025-26.
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His eight assists in the Championship were more than any other Wrexham player.
Following seven loan moves away from City, the 25-year-old is now close to sealing a permanent exit from the Etihad Stadium.
The deal for Kabore is worth up to £4.75m – with City having a 20% sell-on clause and matching rights.
Ekomie recently entered the final year of his deal with Angers and reportedly attracted interest from Wrexham’s Championship rivals West Ham United and German side Hamburg.
The Red Dragons recruited Liberato Cacace from Italian side Empoli during the 2025 summer transfer window, although the New Zealand international has been plagued by injuries since moving to north Wales.
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Ekomie would bolster Phil Parkinson’s left-sided options, with the Gabon international and Kabore expected to join full-back Danny Imray, goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and midfielder Ben Whiteman in moving to the Racecourse Ground this summer.
Kabore made a dream start to life with Wrexham last season as he registered a pair of assists on his debut to help the Welsh side earn a 3-2 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road.
He was a mainstay under Parkinson prior to sustaining a hamstring injury while on international duty during the November break.
Kabore made his long-awaited return to action for Burkina Faso in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations before again featuring prominently for Wrexham in the second half of the season.
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The 55-cap international moved to Man City from Mechelen in 2020 before immediately returning to the Belgian club on loan.
He went on to have loan stints with Troyes, Marseille, Luton Town, Benfica and Werder Bremen prior to joining Wrexham on transfer deadline day in September last year.
Right-back Kabore – who operated as a wing-back for Wrexham last term – is poised to leave Man City having failed to make a senior appearance for the club.
Ekomie started his professional career with Bordeaux but secured a switch to top-flight side Angers in the summer of 2024.
He made 21 appearances across all competitions in his debut season for the club, and his impact increased last term.
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The 23-year-old featured in all but two of his side’s Ligue 1 matches in 2025-26 – with 25 of his 32 appearances in the league being starts.
Prior to his side’s 1-1 draw with Watford, Wrexham manager Parkinson stated deals for various players to join the Red Dragons had fallen through in what had been a “difficult window”.
But speaking in his post-match press conference after the Championship contest with the Hornets, the boss said there were “no guarantees” that Wrexham would further bolster their squad prior to the 23:00 BST transfer deadline on 1 September.
Midfielder George Thomason has operated as a makeshift wing-back in the absence of Cacace – who started just eight of Wrexham’s 46 league games last season.
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Cacace has missed all three of the Red Dragons’ matches across all competitions so far this season and still has two years left to run on his contract at the Racecourse Ground.
Wrexham could yet add to their midfield and forward options in the final stages of the summer window.
Parkinson’s men return to action against Birmingham City at the Racecourse Ground on Friday night (20:00 BST).
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