Daijiworld Media Network - Liverpool
Liverpool, Aug 8: Liverpool have reached an agreement to sign Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo on a season-long loan as the Premier League club look to strengthen their options at centre-back ahead of the new season, according to reports.
The 27-year-old Uruguay international is set to join Liverpool on a straight loan deal, with no option to make the move permanent understood to be included in the agreement, Sky Sports reported.
Araujo joined Barcelona from Uruguay in 2018 and progressed through the club's reserve side before making his senior debut in 2019. He has since made more than 200 appearances for the Catalan giants and was named among Barcelona's captains following the departure of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The proposed move comes as Liverpool face a shortage of experienced options in central defence. Ibrahima Konate has left the club to join Real Madrid, while new signing Jeremy Jacquet is yet to feature in pre-season after recovering from shoulder surgery.
Jacquet, who joined Liverpool from Rennes this summer, is only 21 and has made fewer than 100 senior appearances. His lack of match fitness has further added to Liverpool's concerns in defence.
Liverpool endured a difficult 2025-26 campaign, finishing fifth in the Premier League with 60 points from 38 matches after recording 17 wins, nine draws and 12 defeats. The result narrowly secured Champions League qualification.
The club have also lost talismanic forward Mohamed Salah, who ended his nine-year association with Liverpool and joined Turkish club Trabzonspor.
Liverpool's defensive concerns were compounded by an injury to Joe Gomez, who suffered a muscle problem in the club's opening pre-season fixture. Teenage centre-back Giovanni Leoni remains sidelined while recovering from an ACL injury.
The situation has left captain Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool's only fully fit senior centre-back, increasing the urgency for additional defensive cover.
Araujo, meanwhile, made only 11 LaLiga appearances for Barcelona last season after taking an extended break from football in November 2025. The defender later revealed that he had been recovering from depression during that period.