Arsenal have confirmed that 20-year-old defender Maldini Kacurri has joined Grimsby Town on a permanent deal.
The Albania international departs having made one senior appearance for the club – a 20-minute outing in last season’s 5-1 Carabao Cup win over Bolton – and was named on the bench on seven further occasions before heading out on loan to Bromley in the second half of the campaign.
This season, the centre-back spent time on loan at Morecambe, making 18 appearances in the National League and being named the club’s Player of the Month on two occasions.
Grimsby currently sit ninth in League Two and, following five consecutive wins without conceding, will fancy their chances of pushing for a play-off place.
Named after AC Milan great Paolo Maldini, Kacurri was a relatively late addition to the Arsenal Academy, joining from Fulham in 2022. While a regular at under-18 and under-21 level, his route to consistent senior football was always blocked by the depth of talent ahead of him.
He certainly looks well built for the demands of the lower leagues, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him work his way back up the football ladder in the years to come. Best of luck to him.