Transfer News: Barcelona Sign Defender Julian Araujo from LA Galaxy

Barcelona signed Mexican defender Julian Araujo from MLS side LA Galaxy in a deal until 2026, both clubs said on Friday.

Barcelona missed out on signing Araujo on transfer deadline day as they were 18 seconds late in registering the paperwork, and said they would appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to get the player registered.

Araujo has signed a 3-1/2-year contract until the end of the 2025-26 season, Barcelona said, adding that the 21-year-old will join the club’s B team.

Araujo, who joined LA Galaxy in March 2019, registered two goals and 20 assists in 108 games played across all competitions with the MLS club.

Barcelona said earlier this month that it had tried to sign Araujo but that an unspecified technical glitch meant it had missed the winter market deadline by 18 seconds.

At that point, Barcelona’s director of soccer, Mateu Alemany, said the Spanish club was talking to FIFA to see whether the transfer could still be completed. Barcelona was able to finish the deal after reportedly appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Barcelona said Araujo has agreed to a contract for the remainder of this season plus three more. The Galaxy will retain a sell-on percentage of the transfer fee if Araujo is sold to another club.

“He went up through every emotion there was through the process. From being flattered and excited to a club like Barcelona wants you to the possibility that the deal wasn’t going to be in place to negotiation,” Galaxy coach and sporting director Greg Vanney said. “This is a big move to a club like Barcelona. He has an opportunity to get settled in.”

Araujo came up through the LA Galaxy’s academy program before playing four seasons in MLS. He made 89 starts in 100 regular-season appearances with LA and has been a two-time All-Star selection.

Araujo played in 39 games last season with 35 starts. He had one goal with a career-high nine assists.

Araujo has also made two starts and three appearances for Mexico.

“This was a move that was too good to decline. We knew that he was going to be leaving at some point. The timing was great because it was at the end of the window," Vanney said. “There is a real understanding that players can develop and get better and move on to a world-class club.”

Born in California, he was eligible to play for both the United States and Mexico. After playing for U.S. youth teams, he made his only appearance for the senior team in December 2020 against El Salvador.

In 2021, he requested for FIFA to approve his switch to represent Mexico, making his debut later in December in a friendly 2-2 draw against Chile.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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