Maldini Kacurri

Maldini Kacurri
Personal information
Full name Maldini Kacurri[1]
Date of birth (2005-10-04) 4 October 2005
Place of birth Lewisham, England
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Grimsby Town
Number 2
Youth career
–2022 Fulham
2022–2024 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024–2026 Arsenal 0 (0)
2025 → Bromley (loan) 3 (0)
2025–2026 → Morecambe (loan) 18 (1)
2026– Grimsby Town 16 (1)
International career‡
2021 Albania U17 2 (0)
2023 Albania U19 5 (0)
2024– Albania U21 1 (0)
2025– Albania 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11:10, 6 May 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 4 September 2025

Maldini Kacurri (born 4 October 2005) is a footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Grimsby Town. Born in England, he plays for the Albania national team.

Early life

Kacurri was born on 4 October 2005 in Lewisham, London,[2] and was named after former AC Milan and Italy captain Paolo Maldini. His family emigrated to the UK from Albania. His family are from the city of Lezhë.[3] He has an older sister, a younger brother, and a niece. His family is of the Catholic faith.

Club career

Arsenal

Kacurri began his youth career with the youth academy of English side Fulham, before moving to Arsenal in 2022.[4] He was described as "regular feature for the Gunners at Premier League 2 level" while playing for them.[5]

Kacurri first started training with their senior team during the 2022–23 season.[4] He signed his first professional contract with the club on 4 July 2024.[6] Kacurri made his first senior matchday squad during a 1–0 win over rivals Tottenham on 15 September.[5][7] On 25 September, he made his senior debut as a substitute for Riccardo Calafiori in a 5–1 win over Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup,[8][9] becoming the first Albanian national to represent Arsenal's first team.[2]

Bromley (loan)

On 3 February 2025, Kacurri joined League Two club Bromley on loan for the remainder of the season.[10]

Morecambe (loan)

On 17 September 2025, Kacurri joined 5th tier Morecambe on a season long loan deal.[11][12][13] He made his debut for on 20 September 2025, in a 4–3 victory over Wealdstone.[14]

In November 2025, Kacurri was named Morecambe's Player of the Month for the second consecutive month after receiving more than 50% of the supporters’ votes.[15]

Grimsby Town

On 30 January 2026, Kacurri joined League Two club Grimsby Town on a permanent transfer, agreeing an 18-month deal for an undisclosed fee.[16][17]

International career

An Albanian youth international, Kacurri made two appearances for the Albania national under-17 team before joining the Albania national under-19 team in 2023.

On 1 September 2025, Kacurri received his first senior call-up from coach Sylvinho for a friendly against Gibraltar and a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Latvia, being a replacement for Adrian Bajrami, who withdrew from the squad amid reports of switching allegiance to Switzerland.[18]

He made his senior debut three days later against Gibraltar, starting as a centre-back and playing the full 90 minutes, while also being booked in the 48th minute for a foul challenge, as Albania kept a clean sheet in a 0–1 away win.[19]

Style of play

Kacurri mainly operates as a defender, specifically operates as a center-back.[20] He has been described as an "unstoppable defender, combative and with a tall stature that significantly distinguishes him from his peers."

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 15 May 2026[21]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal U21 2022–23[22] ————1[a]010
2024–25[23] ————2[a]020
Arsenal U21 Total ————3030
Arsenal 2024–25[23] Premier League 00001000—10
2025–26[24] Premier League 00000000—00
Arsenal total 000010000010
Bromley (loan) 2024–25[23] League Two 30————30
Morecambe (loan) 2025–26[24] National League 18110——00191
Grimsby Town 2025–26[24] League Two 16100——20181
Career total 37210100050442
  1. 1 2 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

International

As of match played 4 September 2025[25][26]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Albania 2025 1 0
Total10

Honours

Individual

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2024/25 Updated Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 7 February 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  2. 1 2 James, Josh (26 September 2024). "The stats and records around our latest debutants". Arsenal FC. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  3. ↑ Choudhary, Dayeem (29 October 2024). "Behind the rising star: Maldini Kacurri". vavel.com. Retrieved 30 November 2024. Born on October 4, 2005, in Lewisham, London, to a family originally from the city of Lezhë, Albania, Kacurri's journey is not just a personal achievement but a symbol of hope for many young athletes with immigrant backgrounds.
  4. 1 2 Pangratiou, Lewis (20 October 2022). "Who is Maldini Kacurri? 17-year-old spotted in Arsenal training ahead of PSV Europa League clash". football.london. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  5. 1 2 Wood, Liam (15 September 2024). "Who are Ayden Heaven, Maldini Kacurri and Ismeal Kabia? Arsenal wonderkids on bench vs Tottenham". football.london. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  6. ↑ "Seven academy players sign professional contracts". Arsenal FC. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  7. ↑ "Spurs v Arsenal, 2024/25 | Premier League". Premier League. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  8. ↑ Wright, Stephen (25 September 2024). "Report: Arsenal 5–1 Bolton Wanderers". Arsenal FC. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  9. ↑ "Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers". English Football League. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  10. ↑ "Maldini Kacurri joins on loan from Arsenal". www.bromleyfc.co.uk. 3 February 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
  11. ↑ "Maldini Kacurri signs on loan". www.morecambefc.com. 17 September 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  12. ↑ "Maldini Kacurri joins Morecambe on loan". Arsenal.com. 17 September 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  13. ↑ "Zyrtare/ Silvinjo e bëri titullar në Kombëtare, futbollisti huazohet te gjysmëprofesionistët në kategorinë e pestë". Panorama Sport (in Albanian). 17 September 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  14. ↑ "Morecambe vs Wealdstone". BeSoccer. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  15. ↑ "Arsenal loanee wins 2nd consecutive Player of the Month award". Daily Cannon. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  16. ↑ "Mariners Secure Maldini Kacurri on Permanent Deal". Grimsby Town FC. 30 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  17. ↑ "Maldini Kacurri joins Grimsby Town". Arsenal.com. 30 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  18. ↑ "Ndryshime në listën e Kombëtares: largohen A. Bajrami dhe Muçi, ftohen Kacurri, Çokaj & Shpendi" [Changes in the National Team list: A. Bajrami and Muçi leave, Kacurri, Çokaj & Shpendi are invited] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Federation. 1 September 2025.
  19. ↑ "Shqipëria fiton në miqësoren ndaj Gjibraltarit, vendos goli i Asanit" [Albania wins friendly against Gibraltar, Asani's goal decides] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Federation. 4 September 2025.
  20. ↑ "Everything you need to know about Arsenal wonderkid Maldini Kacurri including age, height and stats". Arsenal Insider. 16 September 2024.
  21. ↑ Maldini Kacurri at BeSoccer
  22. ↑ "Games played by Maldini Kacurri in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  23. 1 2 3 "Games played by Maldini Kacurri in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  24. 1 2 3 "Games played by Maldini Kacurri in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  25. ↑ "Maldini Kacurri". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  26. ↑ Maldini Kacurri at EU-Football.info (archived)
  27. ↑ "Player of the Year Awards 2025/26: Rodgers, Wharton and Walker among winners at Blundell Park - Grimsby Town Football Club". 27 April 2026. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
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