Liverpool agree season-long loan for Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo with €55m option to buy

Transfer agreed

Liverpool have reached agreement with Barcelona to sign Uruguay international centre-back Ronald Araujo on a season-long loan with a non-obligatory option to buy. The deal, first reported by transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano and confirmed by Spanish newspaper Marca, was finalised in a matter of hours on Friday. Barcelona's sporting director Deco reached a verbal agreement with the Premier League club, and Barcelona have authorised the player's departure. The buy-option is reported at €55 million (£47.1m; $63.6m) and sits with Liverpool. The Merseyside club will cover the entirety of Araujo's salary during the loan period. Documents are expected to be signed within 24 hours, and the 27-year-old is due to fly to Liverpool on Sunday to complete his medical.

Why Liverpool need Araujo

New head coach Andoni Iraola described his defensive options as "very thin" last month, and Liverpool's pre-season has exposed the shortage. Joe Gomez went off injured after seven minutes in the first match of their U.S. tour with a muscle injury and will miss the start of the season. Giovanni Leoni has not played since suffering a cruciate ligament injury on his debut against Southampton last September. New signing Jeremy Jacquet, who arrived from Rennes in February for more than £50 million, has yet to make a competitive appearance after a serious shoulder injury and was left out of pre-season matches over fitness concerns. Iraola said Jacquet asked to be substituted in a friendly against Leeds last week.

It was just some overload, and I hope he's not injured in that way. I don't think we've lost anyone.

Ibrahima Konaté's departure to Real Madrid on a free transfer further depleted the back line, and right-back Conor Bradley is likely out until November, leaving Jeremie Frimpong as the only fit senior option in that position. Araujo, who can also play right-back, would partner captain Virgil van Dijk when Liverpool open their Premier League campaign against Newcastle United at St James' Park on Sunday, August 23.

Why Barcelona let their captain go

Araujo ended last season as Barcelona captain but made only 11 league starts under manager Hansi Flick, who preferred a centre-back pairing of Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin. Flick told Araujo this week he would not be a key player this season. The Uruguayan's contract runs until June 2031, but his diminished role made the move logical for all parties. Players such as Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin and Eric Garcia received preference over him. According to Marca, Araujo said goodbye to his team-mates before Barcelona's departure for a friendly tournament in Udine on Saturday evening. The departure frees space in Barcelona's salary budget, a step the club needs to register further players for the new La Liga season and to pursue Manchester City midfielder Rodri, whom Barcelona have reportedly convinced to join. City are asking at least €60 million, while Barcelona are prepared to pay €45 million.

Araujo's Barcelona career and other Liverpool targets

Araujo arrived at Barcelona in 2018/19 from Uruguayan club Boston River for approximately €4.7 million, spending his first two seasons with the B team. Across eight years, he made more than 200 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 20 goals and providing six assists in all competitions. Liverpool had shown interest in Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa but were deterred by the £60 million valuation. The club has also held talks with Paris Saint-Germain over Bradley Barcola, though the European champions value him at around £145 million. Araujo will become Iraola's second signing at Anfield, after winger Victor Munoz.