Wrexham AFC has capped a busy period of summer transfer activity by wrapping up two high-profile senior signings: Issa Kabore from Manchester City and Jacques Ekomie from French Ligue 1 side Angers, bringing the club’s total senior new arrivals to five so far this window.
Kabore, a Burkina Faso international right wing-back, previously spent the 2025-26 season on loan at the Racecourse Ground, where he turned in a standout campaign that convinced Wrexham to secure his services permanently. The 55-cap defender has put pen to paper on a three-year contract for a transfer fee that could rise to £4.75m, with Manchester City retaining a 20% sell-on clause and matching rights for any future sale.
The 2025-26 loan spell marked a turning point for Kabore, who joined Manchester City from Belgian side Mechelen in 2020 but never made a senior first-team appearance for the Premier League giants, spending the entirety of his City tenure on loan at clubs across Europe and England. He made an immediate impact after arriving at Wrexham last September, notching two assists on his debut to help the Welsh side secure a dramatic 3-2 opening victory against Norwich City at Carrow Road. He went on to record eight assists in Championship play – more than any other Wrexham player that season – and established himself as a regular starter under manager Phil Parkinson before a hamstring injury sustained during international duty in November sidelined him. After featuring for Burkina Faso at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Kabore returned to Wrexham and regained his starting place for the second half of the campaign.
“I’m very happy to be back. It feels good to be here again,” Kabore said after completing his move. “Everybody knows our ambition is to get to the Premier League, and I’m here to fight for that promotion.”
Parkinson echoed that excitement, noting: “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.”
Joining Kabore in Wrexham’s latest batch of signings is 23-year-old Gabonese left-back Jacques Ekomie, who has signed a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Ekomie, who entered the final year of his contract with Angers, was reportedly targeted by Wrexham’s Championship rivals West Ham United and German club Hamburger SV, making his move to north Wales a significant coup for the Red Dragons.
Ekomie began his professional career at Bordeaux before moving to Angers in summer 2024. He made 21 appearances in his debut season with the French top-flight side, and cemented his place as a starter in 2025-26, featuring in 32 of 34 Ligue 1 matches and starting 25 of those contests. “I’m excited to be here. It is a very big and interesting project for me – I’m here to progress, and I’m very happy to be here,” Ekomie said. “I want to achieve great things at Wrexham. I think it is an ambitious project and I want to bring all my experience to help the team achieve our goals.”
Parkinson noted that the transfer was the result of extended work from the club’s recruitment team, saying: “We’re very pleased to sign Jacques. It’s a transfer we worked very hard on. Jacques is a good young player and we’re looking forward to integrating him into the group.”
Ekomie’s arrival addresses a key gap on Wrexham’s left flank, where previous summer signing Liberato Cacace has been plagued by injuries since joining from Empoli in 2025. The New Zealand international started just eight of Wrexham’s 46 Championship matches last season and has missed all three of the club’s opening games this term, despite having two years remaining on his current contract. Midfielder George Thomason has been forced to fill in as a makeshift wing-back in Cacace’s absence, so Ekomie’s addition provides much-needed depth for Parkinson’s side.
Ekomie and Kabore join right-back Danny Imray, goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and midfielder Ben Whiteman as Wrexham’s five senior summer signings to date. The transfer window is set to close at 23:00 BST on 1 September, and Parkinson has described the summer window as a challenging one, revealing that multiple potential deals have already fallen through. Ahead of Wrexham’s recent 1-1 draw with Watford, the manager noted there are “no guarantees” the club will add further players before the deadline, though the club is still reportedly looking to reinforce its midfield and forward ranks in the final days of the window.
Wrexham CEO Mike Williamson recently emphasized the club’s transfer strategy, saying the side has prioritized quality over quantity in its summer recruitment. Parkinson’s team will return to Championship action this Friday, hosting Birmingham City at the Racecourse Ground in a 20:00 BST kickoff.