Liverpool have agreed a shock deal for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo to hitch on mortgage for the season.
Primarily a central defender, Araujo would additionally present cowl at proper again for Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley, whose knee damage is about to proceed sidelining him for the opening months of the 2026-27 season.
The deal is a straight mortgage for the 27-year-old, who signed a brand new contract till 2031 final 12 months.
The centre again 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 recreation, whereas teenage centre again Giovanni Leoni continues to be recovering from an ACL damage, leaving captain Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool’s solely absolutely match senior centre again.
Liverpool have agreed a shock deal to signal Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo on mortgage
The Uruguayan led Barcelona to the LaLiga title final time period, however is about for a transfer to Anfield
The Uruguay worldwide joined Barcelona B in 2018 earlier than being promoted to the primary crew in 2019.
He has made greater than 200 appearances for Barcelona however finds himself down the pecking order in Spain, with the likes of Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin forward of him.
Araujo has subsequently taken up the chance to maneuver to the Premier League, with greater than two weeks nonetheless to go till Liverpool’s first recreation of the aggressive season.
The 6ft 3in central defender was on the World Cup with Uruguay and was despatched off when Barcelona misplaced 3-0 at Stamford Bridge towards Chelsea within the Champions League in November.
He did not play a minute for his nation in North America, although, as he was injured in coaching and did not recuperate in time to characteristic earlier than Marcelo Bielsa’s aspect have been knocked out within the group stage.
The Reds will face Monaco on Sunday in pre-season after which Cesc Fabregas’s Como every week later, earlier than beginning their marketing campaign towards Newcastle on August 23.
Araujo will turn out to be the third main arrival at Anfield after the signings of Jacquet and winger Victor Munoz.
