Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo will play for English club Liverpool on loan next season, transfer market specialist Fabrizio Romano reported and sources close to negotiations confirmed to EFE.
While official confirmation is pending, all parties agreed to the single-season loan in recent hours. The deal includes a non-mandatory purchase option, and Liverpool will cover the player's salary.
The 27-year-old Uruguayan international decided to leave Barcelona after meeting with manager Hansi Flick. Flick told Araujo that he would not have the prominent role he desired next season, which Liverpool offered him on paper.
Araujo, who has a contract with Barcelona until 2031, plans to say goodbye to his teammates on Saturday morning. The squad will then travel to Udine, Italy, to play a triangular friendly tournament with Udinese and English club Nottingham Forest.
Loss of prominence at Barcelona
Araujo will attempt to regain his best form at Anfield after losing prominence in Barcelona's lineup in recent years. Last season, he was displaced in the defensive rotation by Gerard Martín and Eric Garcia alongside partner Pau Cubarsí.
The defender was also sidelined for more than a month in the middle of last season due to mental health issues.
Defensive shortage at Liverpool
Liverpool, managed by Basque coach Andoni Iraola, was searching for a defender following the departure of Ibrahima Konaté to Real Madrid and a recent injury to Joe Gomez.
The injury to Gomez left veteran Virgil van Dijk as the only healthy center-back in Liverpool's squad alongside 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni and 21-year-old Jeremy Jacquet.
