Maldini Kacurri

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Maldini Kacurri
Personal information
Full name Maldini Kacurri [1]
Date of birth (2005-10-04) 4 October 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Lewisham, England
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Morecambe
(on loan from Arsenal)
Number 5
Youth career
–2022 Fulham
2022–2024 Arsenal
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2024– Arsenal 0 (0)
2025Bromley (loan) 3 (0)
2025–Morecambe (loan) 2 (0)
International career
2021 Albania U17 2 (0)
2023– Albania U19 5 (0)
2025– Albania 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 24 September 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 4 September 2025

Maldini Kacurri (born 4 October 2005) is an Albanian footballer who plays as a defender for National League club Morecambe on loan from Premier League club Arsenal. Born in England, he plays for the Albania national team.

Contents

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.[ citation needed ]

Club career

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]

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

On 17 September 2025, Kacurri joined 5th tier semi-professional side 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]

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. [15]

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. [16]

Style of play

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

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 24 September 2025 [17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup EFL Cup EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal U21 2022–23 [18] 1 [a] 010
2024–25 [19] 2 [a] 020
Total3030
Arsenal 2024–25 [19] Premier League 0000100010
Bromley (loan) 2024–25 [19] League Two 3030
Morecambe (loan) 2025–26 [20] National League 20000020
Career total500010003090
  1. 1 2 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

International

As of match played 4 September 2025 [21] [22]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Albania
202510
Total10

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. "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.
  16. "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.
  17. Maldini Kacurri at BeSoccer
  18. "Games played by Maldini Kacurri in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  19. 1 2 3 "Games played by Maldini Kacurri in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  20. "Games played by Maldini Kacurri in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  21. "Maldini Kacurri". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  22. Maldini Kacurri at EU-Football.info