Maldini Kacurri playing for Arsenal U21s in January 2026. He has signed for Grimsby Town on an 18-month deal(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Grimsby Town have confirmed the signing of young centre-back Maldini Kacurri from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee.
The 20-year-old defender has signed an 18-month deal with the [Mariners](https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/grimsby-town-fc) with a further option to the club’s benefit. A permanent transfer was agreed despite initial reports suggesting it would be a loan move.
The Albanian international was made available for either type of transfer by the Gunners, having been on loan in the National League in the first half of the campaign, and Town have beaten out other EFL competition for his signature.
On Town’s latest acquisition, head coach David Artell said: "Maldini is a physically strong, commanding centre-back who will add real presence and resilience to our defence. He brings aggression, aerial dominance, and the ability to compete at a high level, which is exactly what we need to strengthen the backline.
“Beyond his defensive qualities, he’s a young player with huge potential, and we’re excited about the energy, attitude, and determination he will bring to the squad both on and off the pitch."
Kacurri played a couple of League Two games in a brief loan at Bromley last term, but it is with Morecambe this season that he has drawn greater attention to his name, winning the club’s Player of the Month award for both October and November.
Injury to starting centre-back Doug Tharme, which will keep him out until May at the earliest following a successful operation, according to the club’s latest update, increased the need for further defensive reinforcement before the window closes on Monday.
Town have other options already at the club to replace Tharme at centre-back, with summer arrival Sam Lavelle filling in well in the last couple of games, but Kacurri’s arrival gives them even greater flexibility and depth in that area.
The defender has made 22 appearances in all competitions this season, 18 for Morecambe and four for Arsenal U21s, scoring once. His recent loan experience should mean he will not require a long bedding-in period in terms of getting up to proper match sharpness.
Back in September, he also earned his first cap for Albania, who are managed by former Arsenal left-back Sylvinho, during a 1-0 friendly win over Gibraltar.
He did make his senior Arsenal debut in the Carabao Cup last term and was named on the bench for a North London derby in the same season, but the strength of the first team in his position made it difficult for him to make a proper breakthrough.
Now that he has picked up some senior football experience with Morecambe, he likely wants to take the next step and permanently transition to the men’s game, which he is much more likely to be able to do with the Mariners than Arsenal at this stage.
Town had dealt in loans in this January window up to this point, with the signings of Jackson Smith, Tyrell Sellars-Fleming and Andy Cook; however, they saw the opportunity to acquire a young, high-potential asset coming from a top academy and jumped at a permanent deal when offered the chance.
It remains to be seen how big a role Kacurri will play in the rest of this season as he gets settled in at the club and understands what Artell wants from him in his system, but it was important the club covered for Tharme’s injury in an area they had already highlighted for potential additions at the start of the window.