Barcelona have officially confirmed a new long-term contract agreement with Ronald Araujo, securing the Uruguayan defender’s future at the club.
Araujo had been the subject of speculation in recent years, with Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Manchester United all reportedly interested in signing him. His previous deal was set to expire in the summer of 2026, fueling uncertainty about his future.
Despite Barcelona’s financial struggles in recent years, which made Araujo a potentially valuable asset on the transfer market, the club has prioritized his contributions on the pitch. Now, with their financial situation stabilizing, Barcelona has opted to secure Araujo’s services until the end of the 2030/31 season. Should he see out the deal, Araujo will have spent over a decade with the Catalan giants.
The versatile defender joined Barcelona in 2018 from the relatively unknown Uruguayan club Boston River, initially playing for the club’s Atletic squad before breaking into the first team a couple of years later. In 2023, he became the club’s third captain and was promoted to vice-captain last summer following Sergi Roberto’s departure.
Araujo faced a significant setback earlier this season after suffering a serious hamstring injury during the Copa America, which required surgery in Finland. However, he made a successful return in the Copa del Rey against Barbastro, wearing the captain’s armband in Marc-André ter Stegen’s absence. Since then, he has started key games against Real Madrid, Real Betis, Getafe, and Benfica across four competitions.
