Liverpool are definitely signing Ronald Araujo if he keeps up this incredible form. Since signing for the Reds on loan from Barcelona, the Uruguayan has provided nothing but evidence of why triggering his £47m option-to-buy clause is a no-brainer.
The 27-year-old centre-back delivered an incredible performance against Atletico Madrid in the Reds’ 2-1 win on Tuesday night, further convincing me and seemingly most Liverpool fans that he’s perfect for this Andoni Iraola team.
Dominik Szoboszlai scored the equaliser, but it was Araujo’s backheel assist that provided the magic to create the opening for the goal.
Araujo has an 81% aerial duel win rate, which, compared to van Dijk’s 71%, shows how dominant he is for Liverpool. Against Atleti, Araujo made two clearances, blocked one shot, won six duels and provided a generally dominant defensive performance.
I love him.
In this market, £47m for Ronald Araujo is such good value that Liverpool can’t afford to turn it down
Not only was Araujo dominant in defence tonight, but he also managed to get an assist… with a backheel flick! Add that to the fact that he also launched into a 70-yard press reminiscent of Andy Robertson, it’s hard not to love this guy!
Araujo is out here pulling off tricks on the ball. ?pic.twitter.com/trWNkqLfDc
— MC (@CrewsMat10) September 9, 2026
Liverpool’s season-long loan agreement with Barcelona includes a clause which gives the Reds the right to keep him at the end of the season for a £47m fee. It’s an option-to-buy clause, which means it’s not compulsory, as opposed to an obligation-to-buy clause, which is usually linked to an appearance clause.
Yet, it seems hard to imagine that Liverpool won’t trigger the clause at some point this season or next summer, because Araujo is just perfect for the way that Iraola needs his defence to play. And he’s doing it out of position at right back!!
We’re getting that €55m folks, they love him. https://t.co/a8PvMQWxo3
— Neal ?? (@NealGardner_) September 9, 2026
Liverpool’s next steps in the transfer market need to be to fix the defence in any case. A new right back that is defensively sound and can contribute to attack is essential. So too is a defensive midfielder.
If Liverpool kept Araujo, signed Lamine Camara and a suitable right-back, this team would be on the path to being a lot more defensively capable.
Liverpool fans seem to be unanimous in agreement over how perfect Araujo is for this team
I have so far heard very few dissenting voices to the idea that Liverpool should keep Araujo at the club beyond the end of this season.
In fact, the vast majority of fans have expressed confusion at the idea that Araujo would have been deemed surplus to requirements by Hansi Flick, but perhaps we need to hear more from Barcelona fans on why his time at the Nou Camp didn’t work out.
At Liverpool, he seems to be a monster. He’s ferocious in the tackle, dominant in the air, seemingly only worried about defending, and shows the kind of spirit and fight that will always win hearts on the Kop.
I thought Araujo was supposed to be shit
— Sean (@SeanDOlfc) September 9, 2026
Liverpool and Barcelona are sharing the responsibility of paying his weekly wage, which is set at £300,ooo-a-week, according to reports. Liverpool and Barca are paying this 50/50, with each club paying him £150,000-a-week for a total of £1.3m per month.
It would be a tall order for Liverpool to commit to paying the full amount permanently from the start of next season, but with every game Araujo plays, I cannot shake the feeling that he’s too good to say goodbye to at the end of the season unless he really wants to go back to Barcelona or another club.
