Liverpool have completed the signing of Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo on a season-long loan.

Uruguay international Araujo will spend the 2026-27 campaign at Anfield, with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.

The 27-year-old, who plays at centre-back but can also feature at right-back, joined Barca from Uruguayan club Boston River in 2018.

“I’m excited to be here at this massive club with lots of history. I’m excited to meet my team-mates, excited to get started playing, and I’m very motivated and really up for getting going,” Araujo said.

“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.”

Araujo joins Liverpool to ease centre-back issues

Liverpool have been looking to strengthen in the centre-back market after Ibrahima Konate departed Merseyside to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.

Araujo’s ability to play right-back will also be useful to manager Andoni Iraola, with the Reds struggling in that particular area last season following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure.

The defender has made more than 200 appearances for Barca, winning three La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey trophies. He was given the captaincy in January following the loan departure of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

He fell out of favour at the Camp Nou last season following the emergence of Pau Cubarsi, starting just 11 times in LaLiga.

Araujo looks likely to play alongside Virgil van Dijk in defence, with Jeremy Jacquet a lesser-experienced option following his move this summer.