Liverpool find out Ronald Araujo’s transfer price as loan deal info comes out
Details about Ronald Araujo’s surprise move to Liverpool have come out, including how much it will cost to make his loan deal permanent.
After signing Spanish winger Victor Munoz by paying his €40 million (£34.6m) release clause in June, Liverpool have been pretty quiet this summer.
Reports say Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola is Andoni Iraola’s top target as Liverpool look for someone to fill the huge shoes of club legend Mohamed Salah. Another young PSG player, Ibrahim Mbaye, has also been linked to a move to Anfield. Defenders like England’s Ezri Konsa and Djed Spence have been talked about too.
But Araujo, a defender from Barcelona, wasn’t even on Liverpool’s list—until transfer expert Fabrizio Romano surprised everyone by confirming the 27-year-old will join soon. The Uruguayan, who can play centre-back or right-back, is coming on a season-long loan, with Liverpool covering his full salary.
Araujo just signed a new contract with Barcelona until 2031. Liverpool will pay him about €11 million a year after tax, roughly £180k per week. That makes him the sixth-highest earner at the club, behind stars like Virgil van Dijk and Alexander Isak.
The loan deal also gives Liverpool the option to buy Araujo at the end of the season for around €55 million (£47.14m), according to Sky Sports. He’s set to fly to Liverpool on Sunday for his medical, paperwork, and to wear the Liverpool shirt for the first time.
Even though fans are excited about Araujo joining just two weeks before the season begins, many think the defense still needs strengthening. Liverpool lost Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson when their contracts expired, and right now players like Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Jeremy Jacquet, and Joe Gomez are out injured.
While Liverpool have been linked with Konsa and Spence, there’s no guarantee another defender will arrive this summer. Romano said on his YouTube channel that another right-back could still join, but the main focus has been on signing a centre-back.
Liverpool start their Premier League season with a game against Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday, August 23.