Liverpool have agreed a loan deal to sign Ronald Araujo from Barcelona, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Romano reported that a verbal agreement has been reached club to club and has been approved by Barcelona sporting director Deco, with a loan deal including an option to buy now in place.
Personal terms between the player and Liverpool are also understood to have been agreed.
The move comes as a direct response to an injury crisis at the back that has left new manager Andoni Iraola with precious little cover heading into the start of the Premier League season.
Ibrahima Konate left for Real Madrid on a free transfer at the end of his contract. Jeremy Jacquet, signed from Rennes for £55 million, is still working his way back from a shoulder injury.
Giovanni Leoni, recruited as a long-term defensive partner for Virgil van Dijk, suffered an ACL tear and will miss the opening months of the campaign entirely. Joe Gomez sustained a further setback during the 4-2 pre-season win over Sunderland.
The situation has left Liverpool, in effect, without a fit and available senior centre-back in the immediate term, and the Araujo deal addresses that emergency.
Liverpool move for experience
The Uruguayan is 27 years old, stands at 6ft 3in and has spent seven seasons at the Camp Nou since joining Barcelona B from Boston River in 2018.
He made 162 appearances for the Catalan club across all competitions during that period, winning two La Liga titles in 2022-23 and 2024-25, and has also shown the versatility to operate at right-back when required.
Last season, however, his role at Barcelona diminished significantly. He started just 11 of his 24 La Liga appearances as Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia and Gerard Martin were all preferred at various stages, contributing three goals from set pieces but ultimately losing his status as a guaranteed starter under Hansi Flick.
Injury has been the persistent theme of his Barcelona career. He suffered a serious adductor tendon injury in September 2022 that ruled him out of the World Cup in Qatar, a knee problem at the end of last season, an ankle injury in February 2025 and an illness-related absence in November 2025.
