Liverpool Make Official Ronald Araujo Announcement: Contract Details, Quotes and Player Profile

Today, Liverpool has officially announced the signing of FC Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, and he will join the Liverpool first team with immediate effect. 

The Uruguayan international will be a welcome addition to Andoni Iraola's side, given the severe lack of available defenders at his disposal up until now. 

This arrival will mean that Iraola will now hopefully be able to ease the likes of Giovanni Leoni, Joe Gomez, and Jeremy Jacquet back into the team, rather than needing to rush them back from injury due to a lack of defensive options.

Not only this, Araujo has the ability to play right back as well as centre back, meaning the Reds also have cover for the injured Conor Bradley. 

Ronald Araujo Player Profile

Ronald Araujo comes into the LFC squad with a significant amount of experience and leadership qualities.

The defender was a mainstay in the Barcelona backline for a number of years, and has won three La Liga's, two Copa del Rey and three Supercopa's as well. 

Furthermore, Araujo was also appointed captain by current Barcelona manager Hansi Flick back in January of this year, despite him struggling to get into the starting XI on a regular basis. 

As for his ability on the pitch, it is clear that he is a top-quality defender. For Barcelona last season, he ranked the highest in the squad for the number of aerial wins per 90 minutes, at 3.31, with an overall success rate of 67%. 

Iraola likes his centre-backs to defend aggressively and operate high up the pitch, and Araujo possesses many of the qualities required to thrive in that system.

Over the last year, Araujo held a 70.73% tackle success rate and thrives in 1 v 1 situations. And as for his on-the-ball ability, this is something he has improved dramatically over the last few years, and that is shown in his 93% passing accuracy, which ranks slightly higher than Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk (89%)

The Terms Of The Deal

The 28-year-old has arrived at Anfield on an initial loan deal, with Liverpool having the option to make the deal a permanent one next summer for a reported £47 million (€55 million). 

Additionally, David Lynch has reported that Ronald Araujo has taken a pay cut in order to facilitate a move to Anfield, as the Reds will cover the full amount of his salary, with no loan fee involved. 

Ronald Araujo's First Quotes as an LFC Player

Speaking following the announcement by the club, Ronald Araujo had this to say about joining the Reds:

“I can’t wait to get started. I’m very, very happy. I’m excited to be here at this massive club with lots of history. I’m excited to meet my teammates, excited to get started playing, and I’m very motivated and really up for getting going.”

He also explained how important and significant this move was at the stage of his career that he is at, and the chance to play for Liverpool is the perfect next step:

“I think it was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career. I think it was a move that was necessary for me to take. As soon as I heard that interest from Liverpool, everything went into action really, really quickly.”

“As I say, I’m super-happy to be here and excited to get started. I’m glad about the interest and it was the right move at the right time.”

What Shirt Number Will Ronald Araujo Wear At Liverpool?

The shirt number for Ronald Araujo was not an obvious one for LFC fans to guess. Araujo has spent several years at Barcelona wearing the number 4, but that number is, of course, taken by fellow defender and Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk.

However, the club has announced that Araujo will wear the number 33 for Liverpool, a number that hasn't been worn by the Reds since Jordan Ibe, but there was special meaning behind this number choice from Ronald Araujo:

“It’s a number that I like, it’s a number that is special to me. Funnily enough, way back when I made my debut as a professional, that was the number that I was wearing back then.”


“But it has a personal meaning for me as well, it has a meaning which is all to do my faith and my relationship with Jesus and God and Religion. It’s a subject I spoke about and had a good conversation with my friends, my family, and my partner and my parents. It’s a number I’m very pleased on a number of levels to be wearing.”

Author's Verdict

Liverpool has secured one of the best defenders in the world when he is fit, healthy, and playing at his best, although his fitness and ability to remain injury-free will be crucial to unlocking the best version of Araujo this season.

Nevertheless, the transfer represents another example of Liverpool taking advantage of an opportunistic opportunity in the market and securing favourable terms.

The Reds have managed to bring in Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo on loan with an option to buy rather than an obligation to do so. Most importantly, that leaves Liverpool firmly in control of the situation heading into next summer.

If Araujo can stay fit and adapt quickly to Iraola’s demands, Liverpool could have secured themselves an elite defensive option while retaining the flexibility to decide whether to make the move permanent at the end of the season.