Liverpool is getting some help for their back line.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Reds have agreed to a loan deal with FC Barcelona for Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo.
Verbal agreement club to club with Barça now approved by director Deco.
New centre back for #LFC with a surprise bomba.
Araujo will bolster Liverpool’s center-back position, which has taken a couple of losses due to transfers and injuries.
Ibrahima Konate did not sign a new deal and joined La Liga side Real Madrid on a free transfer, agreeing to a four-year deal. Joe Gomez is dealing with a “muscle injury” and was subbed off during the team’s preseason games.
Araujo, who captains FC Barcelona, was mostly on the bench for the La Liga-winning team in the 2025 season, with Pau Cubarsi being the primary starting right center-back.
But the CB’s tenure with Liverpool will be an interesting watch for the club, as Araujo is returning from an injury that kept him out of the 2026 World Cup.
Now, with the opportunity for more playing time, Ronald Araujo could help the Reds return to the top of the Premier League.
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GettyLiverpool was linked to an English international
It was reported that Liverpool was interested in Aston Villa center-back Ezri Konsa before agreeing to a loan deal for Ronald Araujo.
Konsa, who started every game for the England National Team at the World Cup, is coming off a 2026 Europa League title with Villa.
If the Reds continued their pursuit of Konsa, they would have been in a bidding war with Arsenal for the center-back’s talents.
The loan deal for Araujo works for Liverpool, as AV currently values the defender around £60 million, with the Europa League-winning club taking a firm stance. Liverpool have now backed out of that bid and have brought a three-time La Liga winner on the defense.
With the new Premier League season set to start around two weeks’ time, Liverpool needed to get depth at the backline quickly. And Ronald Araujo provides that.
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GettyLiverpool has a new manager for the 2026 season
Joining Ronald Araujo is new manager Iraola, who had an impressive run with AFC Bournemouth, finishing sixth in the 2025 season, just three points shy of Liverpool.
According to Graeme Bailey of Team Talk, Iraola wanted to reinforce the defense and got his wish with the addition of Araujo to the squad.
Reports reveal that besides adding a center-back, the Reds are still looking for another right back for depth at the position and with Jeremie Frimpong returning in the 2025 season.
With all eyes on the manager ahead of his first season with the six-time Champions League-winning club, Iraola understands what comes with the job.
“Everything that I’m going to say now, it’s going to go to big scrutiny. You have to be very aware of the mistakes but I wouldn’t like also to be too careful. I would like to act quite normal,” Iraola said.
“I’m not going to live in my bubble – just training ground, home. I would also like to go to the city, experience the city… But it’s part also of the magic of being the Liverpool manager and I would not like to change too much.”
Liverpool Agree to Loan Deal for Three-Time La Liga Winner