Ismeal Kabia was born on 10 December 2005 in the Netherlands and moved to England with his family at the age of nine. After spells in grassroots football with Chatham Riverside and Sittingbourne Lions, he was taken on by Arsenal's youth academy, where he developed into a winger capable of operating on either flank.
Kabia is a right-footed wide attacker who can play on the left or right side of an attacking line, using directness and movement to create chances.
His breakthrough at senior level came during the 2024–25 season. He was named in Arsenal's matchday squad for a 1–0 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur on 15 September 2024, and ten days later made his senior debut as a substitute in a 5–1 EFL Cup victory over Bolton Wanderers, coming on for Raheem Sterling.
In August 2025, Kabia joined EFL League Two side Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan, giving him the regular first-team minutes that a young player at his stage of development typically needs. Through his parents he holds eligibility to represent Sierra Leone at international level, though he has not yet received a senior international cap.
Arsenal retain his registration and will be monitoring his progress at Shrewsbury Town throughout the 2025–26 campaign.