Ronald Araujo switch information: Liverpool agree mortgage deal for Barcelona defender so as to add depth at centre-back

Liverpool have agreed a shock deal for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo to hitch on mortgage for the season.

The deal for the 27-year-old, who signed a brand new Barca contract that runs till 2031 final yr, contains an choice to purchase.

Araujo will arrive within the UK on Sunday to undertake a medical and full his non permanent change to Liverpool.

The Uruguay worldwide joined Barcelona B in 2018 earlier than being promoted to the primary staff in 2019.

The 27-year-old centre-back will add to Andoni Iraola’s choices on the coronary heart of his defence following the departure of Ibrahima Konate to Actual Madrid and health issues over comparatively inexperienced 21-year-old Jeremy Jacquet.

The summer season signing from Rennes has made fewer than 100 senior profession appearances and has not featured in pre-season but after lacking the second half of final season following shoulder surgical procedure.

Joe Gomez suffered a muscle damage in Liverpool’s opening pre-season sport, whereas teenage centre-back Giovanni Leoni remains to be recovering from an ACL damage, leaving captain Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool’s solely fully-fit senior centre-back.

Araujo primarily performs as central defender however can also be able to filling in at right-back. This might help two downside positions for Liverpool, who’ve accidents at each right-back and centre-back.

Araujo joined Barcelona from his native Uruguay in 2018 and made his debut the next October, occurring to play greater than 200 video games on the Nou Camp thus far.

He was named one of many membership’s captains following the departure of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in January however began solely 11 LaLiga matches for the Catalan giants final season following an prolonged break from soccer in November 2025 as he recovered from what he later revealed was melancholy.