Maldini Kacurri
{{Short description|Albanian footballer (born 2005)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Maldini Kacurri
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Maldini Kacurri{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/4243590|title=2024/25 Updated Premier League squad lists|date=7 February 2025|access-date=25 March 2025|website=Premier League}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|10|4|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lewisham, England
| height = 1.89m
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Bromley
(on loan from Arsenal)
| clubnumber = 35
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2022
| youthclubs1 = Fulham
| youthyears2 = 2022–2024
| youthclubs2 = Arsenal
| years1 = 2024–
| clubs1 = Arsenal
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2025–
| clubs2 = → Bromley (loan)
| caps2 = 1
| goals2 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2021
| nationalteam1 = Albania U17
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2023–
| nationalteam2 = Albania U19
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 17:10, 13 February 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 17:10, 13 February 2025 (UTC)
}}
Maldini Kacurri (born 4 October 2005) is an Albanian footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Bromley, on loan from Premier League club Arsenal.
Career
Kacurri was born on 4 October 2005 in Lewisham, London, 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/10/29/arsenal/1202296-behind-the-rising-star-maldini-kacurri.html|title=Behind the rising star: Maldini Kacurri|last=Choudhary|first=Dayeem|date=29 October 2024|website=vavel.com|access-date=30 November 2024|quote=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.}} He has an older sister, a younger brother, and a niece. His family is of the Catholic faith.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
Kacurri began his youth career with the youth academy of English side Fulham, before moving to Arsenal in 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/maldini-kacurri-arsenal-training-psv-25309470 |title=Who is Maldini Kacurri? 17-year-old spotted in Arsenal training ahead of PSV Europa League clash |last=Pangratiou |first=Lewis |date=20 October 2022 |website=football.london |access-date=4 October 2024}} He was described as "regular feature for the Gunners at Premier League 2 level" while playing for them.{{cite web |url=https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/players/who-ayden-heaven-maldini-kacurri-29939958 |title=Who are Ayden Heaven, Maldini Kacurri and Ismeal Kabia? Arsenal wonderkids on bench vs Tottenham |last=Wood |first=Liam |date=15 September 2024 |website=football.london |access-date=4 October 2024}}
Kacurri first started training with their senior team during the 2022–23 season. He signed his first professional contract with the club on 4 July 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/seven-academy-players-sign-professional-contracts |title=Seven academy players sign professional contracts |date=4 July 2024 |website=Arsenal FC |access-date=26 September 2024}} Kacurri made his first senior matchday squad during a 1–0 win over rivals Tottenham on 15 September.{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/match/115865 |title=Spurs v Arsenal, 2024/25 {{pipe}} Premier League |date=15 September 2024 |website=Premier League |access-date=4 October 2024}} 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,{{cite web |url=https://www.arsenal.com/fixture/arsenal/2024-Sep-25/arsenal-bolton-wanderers-match-report |title=Report: Arsenal 5–1 Bolton Wanderers |last=Wright |first=Stephen |date=25 September 2024 |website=Arsenal FC |access-date=4 October 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/match-centre/g2484355 |title=Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers |date=25 September 2024 |website=English Football League |access-date=4 October 2024}} becoming the first Albanian national to represent Arsenal's first team.{{cite web |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/stats-and-records-around-our-latest-debutants |title=The stats and records around our latest debutants |last=James |first=Josh |date=26 September 2024 |website=Arsenal FC |access-date=26 September 2024}}
On 3 February 2025, Kacurri joined League Two club Bromley on loan for the remainder of the season. {{cite web|url=https://www.bromleyfc.co.uk/news/first-team/maldini-kacurri-joins-on-loan-from-arsenal/|title=Maldini Kacurri joins on loan from Arsenal|website=www.bromleyfc.co.uk|date=3 February 2025|accessdate=3 February 2025}}
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.
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|date=October 2024}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 4 February 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|EFL Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Arsenal U21
|2022–23{{soccerbase season|166972|2022|access-date=4 October 2024}} |colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2024–25{{soccerbase season|166972|2024|access-date=4 October 2024}}
|colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3||0||3||0 | ||||||||||||
| Arsenal
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| Bromley (loan)
|1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Premier League player}}
- {{UEFA player}}
- {{Soccerway}}
- {{WorldFootball.net}}
{{Bromley F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kacurri, Maldini}}
Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Lewisham
Category:English people of Albanian descent
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Albanian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Albanian sportsmen