Wrexham clinch signing of Man City's Kabore

Wrexham have completed the signing of Issa Kabore on a permanent deal from Manchester City.

The Red Dragons are also on the brink of announcing a deal that will see Angers left-back Jacques Ekomie move to north Wales.

Burkina Faso international Kabore featured 32 times across all competitions during a loan spell with Wrexham in 2025-26.

"I'm very happy to be back. It feels good to be here again," said Kabore, who has signed a three-year deal with the club.

"Everybody knows our ambition is to get to the Premier League, and I'm here to fight for that promotion.

"I'm here to fight for this club, for our fans, and to give back the love everyone gave me last season."

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.

Ekomie would bolster Phil Parkinson's left-sided options, with the Gabon international now set to join right wing-backs Kabore and 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.

His eight assists in the Championship were more than any other Wrexham player.

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.

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.

He leaves Man City having failed to make a senior appearance for the club.

On Kabore's return, manager Parkinson said: "We're delighted to welcome Issa back to the football club.

"He had a successful loan spell with us last year, and we're looking forward to working with him again and watching him really develop as a player this coming season."

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.

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.

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).