Liverpool entered the summer facing a serious defensive crisis. Joe Gomez was freshly injured. Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni were still working their way back from long-term layoffs with uncertain return dates. At 35 years old, Virgil van Dijk was the only defender who seemed a certain starter for opening day.
Then, according to a report by Yahoo Sports, the club reached an agreement on a season-long loan deal for Barcelona's Ronald Araujo, a 27-year-old Uruguayan centre-back, with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign. BBC Sport confirmed Liverpool were close to completing the signing and that Araujo is expected to link up with the squad this weekend.
The deal came as a surprise. Araujo had been named captain at Barcelona earlier this year following the departure of Marc-Andre ter Stegen and played 38 games for the club last season. He was not reported to be available. The situation changed when Barcelona manager Hansi Flick informed Araujo during pre-season that he would not be a key starter. That conversation opened the door.
Araujo is under contract with Barcelona until 2031. He joined the club from Uruguayan side Boston River in 2018 and has made more than 200 appearances for the Spanish giants. He has been part of a Barcelona squad that won La Liga in three of the past four seasons. Last season, however, he made only 11 league starts as Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi established themselves as the club's preferred central defensive pairing.
Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano first reported the loan deal. It was later confirmed on the Liverpool side by The Times reporter Paul Joyce. Reports from Barcelona added that the purchase option at the end of the loan is non-mandatory.
Liverpool's need for defensive cover was made more pressing by Ibrahima Konate's departure to Real Madrid on a free transfer. The Araujo deal addresses a gap that had few obvious solutions heading into the new season. At his best, Araujo is a starter for both Barcelona and Uruguay. He can also play right back in an emergency.
Yahoo Sports noted there are some concerns about the player, including his disciplinary record, ability to remain focused across a full 90 minutes, and mental health issues that led him to step away from football for a period last season. The financial details of the loan fee and the cost of the purchase option have not been disclosed.
Araujo was expected to say goodbye to his Barcelona teammates before traveling to Liverpool to finalize the agreement. The Reds open their league season against Newcastle in two weeks.
