# Ismeal Kabia
**Ismeal Kabia** (born 2005 in Hengelo, Netherlands) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a winger and right wing-back for St. Mirren of the [Scottish Premiership](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottish-premiership), on loan from Arsenal. He is right-footed, 1.75 m tall, and eligible internationally for the Netherlands and [Sierra Leone](https://www.edgepedia.org/sierra-leone), for whom he is uncapped.[1](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1473063/ismeal-kabia) • [2](https://www.scoutbase.football/players/ismeal-kabia-PNEDKABISMHEN20051210)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2005, Hengelo, Netherlands[3](https://www.arsenal.com/fixtures/academy/players/ismeal-kabia-aixsF5H5DYUD) |
| Position | Winger / right wing-back; right-footed[1](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1473063/ismeal-kabia) |
| Current club | St. Mirren, on loan from Arsenal for 2026/27[4](https://www.stmirren.com/players/ismeal-kabia) |
| Arsenal first team | One appearance, in a 5-1 EFL Cup win over Bolton Wanderers in 2024/25; zero league appearances[4](https://www.stmirren.com/players/ismeal-kabia) • [5](https://theanalyst.com/players/3760/ismeal-kabia) |
| Shrewsbury Town loan | 2025/26: 38 League Two appearances, 2 goals, 2 assists[6](https://theanalyst.com/players/3760/ismeal-kabia/career) |
| Honor | League Two Goal of the Month, April 2026[4](https://www.stmirren.com/players/ismeal-kabia) |
| International eligibility | Netherlands and Sierra Leone; uncapped[2](https://www.scoutbase.football/players/ismeal-kabia-PNEDKABISMHEN20051210) |
## Youth career at Arsenal
Kabia signed for Arsenal on 28 March 2017 and has been with the club from the age of 11.[3](https://www.arsenal.com/fixtures/academy/players/ismeal-kabia-aixsF5H5DYUD) A Dutch right winger, he progressed through the academy and stepped up to the under-21s, making 13 appearances in Premier League 2 in 2023/24 and 14 in 2024/25, including both play-off matches; he also featured for [Jack Wilshere](https://www.edgepedia.org/jack-wilshere)'s under-18 side in the U18 Premier League and [FA Youth Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-youth-cup) and represented Arsenal in the [UEFA Youth League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-youth-league).[3](https://www.arsenal.com/fixtures/academy/players/ismeal-kabia-aixsF5H5DYUD)
## Arsenal first team and loans
Kabia first featured in Arsenal's senior matchday squad in a 1-0 win over [Tottenham](https://www.edgepedia.org/tottenham) in September 2024. His one and only first-team appearance came in a 5-1 win over Bolton Wanderers in the [EFL Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/efl-cup) in 2024/25, and across his Arsenal career he made zero league appearances in total.[4](https://www.stmirren.com/players/ismeal-kabia) • [5](https://theanalyst.com/players/3760/ismeal-kabia)
**Shrewsbury Town, 2025/26.** After signing his second professional contract, Kabia joined the League Two side Shrewsbury Town on loan for the 2025/26 season.[3](https://www.arsenal.com/fixtures/academy/players/ismeal-kabia-aixsF5H5DYUD) In League Two he made 38 appearances, playing 3,021 minutes, and scored 2 goals with 2 assists and 4 yellow cards.[6](https://theanalyst.com/players/3760/ismeal-kabia/career) Across all competitions he made 43 appearances with 3 goals.[1](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1473063/ismeal-kabia) His season included a long-range strike against Fleetwood Town in a 2-2 draw on 25 April 2026, which won him the League Two Goal of the Month award for April.[4](https://www.stmirren.com/players/ismeal-kabia) • [1](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1473063/ismeal-kabia)
## St. Mirren
Kabia joined St. Mirren on loan in August 2026, becoming the club's ninth signing of the summer, after featuring for Arsenal in a pre-season friendly against [Real Betis](https://www.edgepedia.org/real-betis); St. Mirren describe him as having chosen the move following interest from both sides of the border and in Europe.[4](https://www.stmirren.com/players/ismeal-kabia) In the 2026/27 [Premiership](https://www.edgepedia.org/premiership) he has started all six of his appearances, playing 460 minutes without scoring, and his most recent league outing was 67 minutes in a 5-0 loss to Heart of Midlothian on 10 October.[5](https://theanalyst.com/players/3760/ismeal-kabia) Across Premiership and cup competition for St. Mirren, Opta data through 10 October records 7 appearances, 519 minutes, 10 key passes, 7 successful dribbles, and no goals or assists.[4](https://www.stmirren.com/players/ismeal-kabia)
## Playing style
Kabia is a speedy forward whose statistical profile against other fullbacks shows attacking rather than defensive traits: FotMob percentile comparisons place him high on chances created (86th percentile) and shot attempts (62nd) but low on touches (3rd percentile) and defensive contributions (5th percentile).[1](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1473063/ismeal-kabia) In the FC 27 game ratings he is listed at 63 overall with 72 potential, with pace (90) and stamina (73) as his standout attributes.[7](https://www.fccareer.ai/players/ismeal-kabia)
## References
1. [Ismeal Kabia, FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1473063/ismeal-kabia)
2. [Ismeal Kabia, ScoutBase](https://www.scoutbase.football/players/ismeal-kabia-PNEDKABISMHEN20051210)
3. [Ismeal Kabia, Arsenal FC Official Website](https://www.arsenal.com/fixtures/academy/players/ismeal-kabia-aixsF5H5DYUD)
4. [Ismeal Kabia, St. Mirren FC](https://www.stmirren.com/players/ismeal-kabia)
5. [Ismeal Kabia, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/3760/ismeal-kabia)
6. [Ismeal Kabia Career History, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/3760/ismeal-kabia/career)
7. [Ismeal Kabia FC27 Rating, FCCareer](https://www.fccareer.ai/players/ismeal-kabia)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of continental Europe › Dutch footballers › Dutch footballers born since 1985*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license