Liverpool have signed Uruguay centre-back Ronald Araujo on a season-long loan from Barcelona. The deal for the 27-year-old, who can also play right-back, includes an option to buy.
Araujo joined Barcelona from Uruguayan club Boston River in 2018. He has made more than 200 appearances for the Spanish club, winning three La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey trophies, and was given the captaincy in January following the loan departure of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Speaking after the move, Araujo said he was excited to join a club with lots of history. He said, ‘I think it was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career. I think it was a move that was necessary for me to take.’
Liverpool address defensive options after Konate exit
Liverpool have been looking to strengthen their defence this summer after France international Ibrahima Konate left the club to join Real Madrid on a free transfer. Araujo is under contract at the Nou Camp until 2031 but only made 11 league starts last season as Barca were crowned Spanish champions for the 29th time.
Araujo found his playing time limited under Barca manager Hansi Flick, who arrived in May 2024, as Spaniards Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi became the club’s preferred central defensive pairing.
As well as Konate’s departure, Liverpool’s other centre-back options, Joe Gomez, new signing Jeremy Jacquet and Italian teenager Giovanni Leoni, are all continuing their recoveries from injury. Jacquet, 21, officially joined the Reds last month in a £60m deal from Rennes, but has not played in any of the club’s pre-season friendly games so far because of a minor knee issue. New head coach Andoni Iraola told LFCTV that Jacquet should be fine to be included in Liverpool’s double-header against Como on Sunday.
Iraola paired 35-year-old captain Virgil van Dijk with Austrian teenager Ifeanyi Ndukwe in defence in the 3-2 friendly defeat by Monaco at Anfield at the weekend. Ndukwe, who is 6ft 6in, became a Liverpool player this summer after agreeing a move from Austria Vienna in January. The 18-year-old has impressed during pre-season, however, Iraola will not be able to use him this year as he does not yet qualify for a UK work permit.
Mental health absence and support from Nunez
In December, Araujo was granted a leave of absence by Barcelona to prioritise his mental health, following his sending off in the Champions League defeat by Chelsea a few weeks earlier. After spending time with his family in Uruguay, he returned to training at Barca in January, scoring on his first start since his break in the club’s Copa del Rey quarter-final win at Albacete a month later.
Speaking to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo in February, the defender said he had not been well for a while, adding that he had anxiety for 18 months and it became depression.
Araujo made his debut for Uruguay in 2020 and has been capped 27 times for his country. He was part of former boss Marcelo Bielsa’s squad at this summer’s World Cup, although he did not feature at the tournament.
Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez, Araujo’s international team-mate, wrote on X that he was joining a great club, adding that Araujo would now feel the affection and support of the Liverpool fans as one of their own.
Liverpool start their Premier League campaign away at Newcastle United on Sunday, 23 August at 16:30 BST.
