Ibrahim Sangaré was born on 2 December 1997 in Ivory Coast and began his footballing education at local clubs Tout Puissant Koumassi and AS Denguélé before earning a place in the professional ranks. He made his senior debut for Ligue 1 side Toulouse in October 2016, featuring in a 0–0 draw against Angers, and established himself as a reliable defensive presence in the French top flight before Toulouse's relegation to Ligue 2.
In September 2020 he joined PSV Eindhoven on a five-year deal, quickly becoming one of the standout midfielders in the Eredivisie. He was named Eredivisie Player of the Month for November 2021 and appeared in multiple Team of the Month selections that season. With PSV he won the KNVB Cup twice, in 2021–22 and 2022–23, starting in both finals against rivals Ajax. A thunderous 170 km/h strike in the 2022–23 quarter-final against ADO Den Haag drew particular attention.
A combative and mobile defensive midfielder, Sangaré covers ground effectively and excels at winning the ball back in central areas. In September 2023 he joined Premier League club Nottingham Forest for a reported £30 million on a five-year contract, where he serves as a key figure in the club's midfield.
On the international stage, Sangaré was included in Ivory Coast's squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, held in his home country. He came on as a substitute in the final against Nigeria, with Ivory Coast winning 2–1 to claim the title. He has also been selected for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations squad.