Arsenal defender Maldini Kacurri recently returned to north London following a successful loan spell with National League side Morecambe
Ryan Taylor
16:37, 14 Jan 2026
Maldini Kacurri
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Maldini Kacurri has been back tracking with Arsenal following the end of his Morecambe loan(Image: )
Maldini Kacurri has been back training with Arsenal this week following the expiration of his loan with Morecambe.
The Albania international flourished during his stint with The Shrimps but unfortunately, the agreement between the parties expired on January 2.
football.london reported earlier this month that there were talks between the two sides about an extension but a fresh agreement could not be reached.
Arsenal have been reflecting on the young centre-back's progress and have also fielded calls from a number of EFL clubs about taking Kacurri on loan for the second half of the season.
It's understood there has also been permanent interest but the Gunners are yet to agree any deal, so Kacurri has been back involved in training with Mikel Arteta's squad for the first time since September at London Colney.
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Given Arteta is currently combating a number of injury issues in defence, some might question whether Kacurri could be reintegrated to provide support.
However, as per FIFA rules, players are only permitted to feature for two clubs during a single campaign and of course, the 20-year-old has already played for Morecambe.
Therefore, if Kacurri was to make an appearance for Arsenal, it would then prevent him from being able to depart either on loan or permanently before the end of the month - and that is currently the priority.
Kacurri made his Arsenal first-team debut in September 2024 when he came off the bench in the Carabao Cup demolition of Bolton Wanderers, replacing Riccardo Calafiori.
Maldini Kacurri in Arsenal training
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Maldini Kacurri in Arsenal training last summer(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
He then spent the second half of the season on loan at Bromley but struggled for regular minutes in League Two before returning to north London.
Arsenal's first-ever Albanian player was also on the bench for the 1-0 North London Derby win at Tottenham last season, though he did not get on the field of play.
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He has previously trained with the first team and is known to the majority of Arteta's squad. Morecambe would have loved to keep him after he won both their October and November Player of the Month awards but that wasn't possible due to the nature of interest from teams higher up the pyramid.
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