Liverpool have completed the signing of Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo on a season-long loan. Uruguay international Araujo will spend the 2026-27 campaign at Anfield, with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.The 27-year-old, who plays at centre-back but can also feature at right-back, joined Barca from Uruguayan club Boston River in 2018.Im excited to be here at this massive club with lots of history. Im excited to meet my team-mates, excited to get started playing, and Im very motivated and really up for getting going, Araujo said.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.As soon as I heard that interest fromLiverpool, everything went into action really, really quickly.Araujo joins Liverpool to ease centre-back issuesLiverpool have been looking to strengthen in the centre-back market after Ibrahima Konate departed Merseyside to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.Araujos ability to play right-back will also be useful to manager Andoni Iraola, with the Reds struggling in that particular area last season following Trent Alexander-Arnolds departure.The defender has made more than 200 appearances for Barca, winning three La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey trophies. He was given the captaincy in January following the loan departure of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.He fell out of favour at the Camp Nou last season following the emergence of Pau Cubarsi, starting just 11 times in LaLiga.Araujo looks likely to play alongside Virgil van Dijk in defence, with Jeremy Jacquet a lesser-experienced option following his move this summer. Topics FC Barcelona Liverpool F.C. Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Jeff Bezos consortium set to complete minority stake purchase of Liverpool Mitch Fretton 10th August, 2026 Isak confident Liverpool are building despite Monaco defeat: Today felt better than last game Mitch Fretton 9th August, 2026 Liverpool 2-3 Monaco: Report, result and goals as Reds let two-goal lead slip Mitch Fretton 9th August, 2026 Liverpool vs Monaco: Confirmed line-ups as Iraola takes charge at Anfield for first time 101 GreatGoals 9th August, 2026 Pre-season round-up: Tottenham fail to win as Premier League clubs continue preparations Mitch Fretton 8th August, 2026 Liverpool v Monaco: Expected line-ups, preview, stats and where to watch as Iraola makes Anfield bow Jon Fisher 8th August, 2026
