Liverpool have confirmed the signing of centre-back Ronald Araujo on a season-loan from Barcelona.<\/p>\n
The Merseyside club hold an option to make the move permanent for \u20ac55million (\u00a347.1m; $63.6m). Liverpool have not paid a loan fee but will cover all of his wages with Araujo taking a pay cut in order to facilitate the move.<\/p>\n
The Athletic reported on Friday that Liverpool were set to sign the defender, who underwent a medical on Sunday. He is expected to join team training this week.<\/p>\n
Liverpool were attracted to the opportunity by Araujo\u2019s leadership skills, wealth of experience and versatility.<\/p>\n
The club are also continuing to assess other targets in the transfer market, with a winger considered a priority. They recently stepped up their interest in Paris Saint-Germain\u2019s Bradley Barcola<\/a> but they have so far been unable to agree a fee for the France international.<\/p>\n We have agreed a deal to sign Ronald Araujo on loan from FC Barcelona for the 2026-27 season, subject to a successful work permit application and international clearance \ud83d\ude4c\ud83d\udd34 pic.twitter.com\/RGfTzawvqR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The arrival of Araujo, who is also capable of playing at right-back, helps bolster Andoni Iraola\u2019s defensive options, with the Liverpool head coach previously saying that the team were \u201cthin\u201d at the back.<\/p>\n Ibrahima Konate left as a free agent and joined Real Madrid following the expiration of his contract, while Giovanni Leoni is still out after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in September and Joe Gomez is expected to miss the start of the campaign due to a muscular issue sustained in pre-season.<\/p>\n French defender Jeremy Jacquet officially joined the club this summer from Rennes after a deal was agreed for his transfer in the winter window, though he has not played since February due to a shoulder injury.<\/p>\n A minor knee problem has kept Jacquet out of Liverpool\u2019s pre-season games so far but he\u2019s expected to return to action<\/a> against Como at Anfield next Sunday.<\/p>\n Araujo joined Barcelona from Boston River in his native Uruguay in January 2019 and has made 213 appearances for the team, winning La Liga three times.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old featured 38 times in all competitions for Barcelona last season, though only made 18 starts. He was as granted indefinite leave by Barcelona<\/a> at the beginning of December after requesting a period of absence and returned to the team at the end of January.<\/p>\n