Swedish second-tier side Kalmar FF has announced the loan signing of Lithuanian forward Tomas Kalinauskas from English League One club Burton Albion for the remainder of the season.
The 25-year-old winger joined Burton Albion last summer after spending a year and a half at Dutch second division side FC Den Bosch. Last season, Kalinauskas made 43 appearances for Burton, scoring two goals and providing three assists.
Kalinauskas began his football career in London, spending seven years as a youth player at the Conquest Football Academy. After a series of trial matches, he signed his first professional contract with Barnsley FC in July 2021. In 2022, he was loaned to AFC Wimbledon and Havant & Waterlooville before moving to Burton Albion.
Kalmar FF, who were relegated from Sweden’s top flight last season, have their sights set on a swift return to the Allsvenskan. The team is currently tied for first place in the Superettan, Sweden’s second division, alongside Örgryte IS after a strong first half of the season.
Kalinauskas has also represented the Lithuanian national team, earning 11 caps at U19 and U21 levels. He made his senior debut on 25 September 2022 in a Nations League match against Luxembourg. In total, he has earned five senior caps for Lithuania.
Kalmar’s sporting director Peter Swärdh shared his excitement about the new arrival:
“We welcome Tomas Kalinauskas to Kalmar FF and look forward to seeing how he will contribute to our performances here this fall. He is a fast, creative player who excels in high-press situations.”
Tomas Kalinauskas himself expressed his eagerness to start this new chapter in his career:
“I had really good conversations with both the coach and the sporting director. We spoke a lot about football, the team’s playing philosophy, and how they envision the game here in Kalmar. I immediately felt that there is a clear philosophy that aligns well with my own footballing vision. This was crucial for me. Now, I am really excited to get started and meet all my new teammates.”
Source: https://kalmarff.se/valkommen-till-kalmar-ff-tomas-kalinauskas/
