Wrexham Closing in on Defensive Double with Kabore and Ekomie

Wrexham are closing in on a double defensive swoop, with Issa Kabore set to join permanently from Manchester City and Jacques Ekomie poised to arrive from Angers.

It is a statement move. And it is built on trust already earned on the pitch.

Kabore finally cuts the cord with City

Kabore has spent years on the road. Seven loan spells, no senior appearance for Manchester City, and a career that always seemed to be happening somewhere else.

Wrexham changed that.

The Burkina Faso international became a key figure in north Wales last season, featuring 32 times in all competitions in 2025-26 and driving Phil Parkinson’s side down the right flank. Operating as a wing-back, the 25-year-old delivered eight assists in the Championship – more than any other Wrexham player.

The numbers backed up the eye test. His debut set the tone: two assists at Carrow Road as Wrexham edged Norwich City 3-2, an instant glimpse of the energy and delivery that would define his campaign.

Now the move is about to be made permanent. The deal is worth up to £4.75m, with City inserting a 20% sell-on clause and matching rights, underlining how highly they still rate the player they never quite found room for at the Etihad Stadium.

Kabore’s journey to this point has been long. He joined City from Mechelen in 2020 and immediately went back to the Belgian club on loan. Troyes, Marseille, Luton Town, Benfica and Werder Bremen all followed, before Wrexham snapped him up on transfer deadline day last September.

Under Parkinson, he finally found continuity. He became a mainstay until a hamstring injury on international duty with Burkina Faso in the November break checked his momentum. He fought his way back at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, making his long-awaited return for his country before re-establishing himself in Wrexham’s side in the second half of the season.

Now, at 55 caps for Burkina Faso and with his best club football coming in red rather than sky blue, Kabore is on the brink of a clean break from Manchester City.

Ekomie to strengthen the opposite flank

While the right side looks set with Kabore, Wrexham have also moved to fortify the left.

Jacques Ekomie, the Gabon international left-back from Angers, is expected to join as he enters the final year of his contract with the French club. His situation has not gone unnoticed: Championship rivals West Ham United and German side Hamburg have both been linked, but Wrexham are pushing to get the deal over the line.

The need is clear. Liberato Cacace arrived from Empoli in the summer of 2025, but injuries have stalked the New Zealand international’s time in north Wales and disrupted any chance of rhythm or consistency.

Ekomie would give Parkinson fresh balance on the left, adding competition and cover in a key area. With Kabore on one flank and Ekomie on the other, Wrexham’s wing-back options would look far more robust heading into the new campaign.

Building a new spine at the Racecourse

These are not isolated moves. They are part of a broader rebuild.

Kabore and Ekomie are expected to join a growing list of summer arrivals at the Racecourse Ground. Full-back Danny Imray, goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and midfielder Ben Whiteman are all set to come through the door as Wrexham sharpen their squad for the demands of the Championship.

It is a squad being shaped with clear intent: more depth, more athleticism, more proven quality at this level.

For Kabore, this is the moment his career stops being a series of temporary addresses and becomes a home. For Wrexham, it is another step in a project that shows no sign of slowing.