Wrexham sign Manchester City defender Issa Kaboré on season‐long loan to bolster right‐wing‐back options

Wrexham have signed Manchester City defender Issa Kaboré on a season‑long loan, the club confirmed around 1 September 2025, adding a pacey, attack‑minded right‑back to Phil Parkinson’s squad as they prepare for the Championship campaign.

The 24‑year‑old Burkina Faso international joins on a season‑long loan from Manchester City for the 2025–26 season. Reporting around deadline day placed Wrexham as the successful suitors after a brief scramble that included other Championship interest. The arrangement is intended to provide depth and tactical flexibility on the right flank for Parkinson’s 3‑5‑2/wing‑back system.

Wrexham arrive in the Championship after three consecutive promotions under Phil Parkinson and have spent a busy summer reshaping their squad to withstand a more physically demanding league.

Parkinson’s system depends heavily on wing‑backs for width and attacking overloads; securing Kaboré is part of a wider recruitment push that blends Championship experience with loan signings to strengthen depth and offer multiple profile options down the right.

- Name/age/physicals: Issa Kaboré, born 12 May 2001, listed at roughly 1.80m, is a full international for Burkina Faso.

- Club path: Kaboré moved from Rahimo FC’s youth setup to European football and was signed by Manchester City in 2020. Since then his club career has been shaped by a series of loans — Mechelen, Troyes, Marseille (where he picked up Champions League minutes), Luton Town, Benfica and Werder Bremen — before this loan to Wrexham for 2025–26.

- International pedigree: He is a senior Burkina Faso international with multiple caps and was recognised as a standout young player at AFCON 2021.

Kaboré’s defining attributes are his explosive pace, direct dribbling and a naturally attacking mindset. He is most comfortable getting high and wide to supply crosses, overloads and vertical runs that unsettle defensive lines — traits that suit a team set up to use wing‑backs as primary sources of width. He is also capable in recovery situations and has Champions League experience from earlier spells in Europe.

However, his career to date has been characterised by intermittent playing time across successive loans and moments of positional inconsistency. Last season he had limited minutes during spells at Benfica and Werder Bremen, and his challenge at Wrexham will be to convert flashes of high‑level potential into consistent, match‑long performances in one of the Championship’s toughest calendars.

On paper Kaboré matches the archetype Parkinson seeks on the right: a wing‑back who can provide sustained width, carry the ball vertically, and combine with attacking midfielders and forwards to create overloads. In a 3‑5‑2 setup his role will likely involve:

- High starting position to stretch opposition full‑backs and create crossing or cut‑back opportunities for the two strikers.

- Frequent combinations with the right‑sided midfielder or inside forward to unlock tight defensive blocks.

- Sprinting recovery to cover opposing wide attackers when the side is out of possession — a physical and concentration test over 90 minutes in the Championship.

Kaboré gives Parkinson tactical options. He can operate as the attacking wing‑back tasked with bombarding forward on the right, or he can be rotated with more conservative wing‑backs when defensive solidity is required. His pace also allows Wrexham to play transitions quickly and punish turnovers with direct runs in behind.

The main trade‑off is between Kaboré’s attacking upside and the defensive discipline required in the Championship. Parkinson will want to see improved positional awareness and consistency across the season; otherwise opponents may exploit gaps left when Kaboré pushes high. Fitness and rhythm will also matter — a player who has logged sporadic minutes in recent seasons must adapt to the relentless Friday–Saturday schedule and physical duels of English second‑tier football.

Practically, expect Kaboré to compete for the starting right‑wing‑back role early on and to be used as a rotational weapon in a congested fixture list. His best immediate impact will come in matches where Wrexham can press and counter‑attack; games that demand sustained defending and compactness may expose his still‑developing defensive instincts.

Reports emphasize that Wrexham see Kaboré as a specialist fit for their wing‑back model and as part of a transfer window that prioritized depth on the flanks. His CV includes top‑flight and Champions League minutes from previous loan spells, but last season’s limited playing time at Benfica and Werder Bremen means the onus is on him to re‑establish consistency.

- Defensive positioning: does Kaboré balance his forward runs with timely recoveries and positional discipline?

- Minutes and fitness: can he sustain high‑intensity performances across the Championship schedule?

- Combination play: how well does he link with Wrexham’s wide and central attackers in the 3‑5‑2 transitions?

- End product: crosses, progressive carries and final‑third actions that turn his pace into goal‑creating contributions.

The loan capture of Issa Kaboré is a clear tactical statement: Wrexham are investing in wing‑back quality to make their 3‑5‑2 viable in the Championship. If Kaboré translates his pace, directness and European experience into steady performances, he could be a decisive attacking outlet for Parkinson’s side.

The caveat is consistency — both in minutes and positional decision‑making — which will determine whether this is a transformational signing or a short‑term gamble that needs careful management.