Liverpool have confirmed the signing of centre-back Ronald Araujo on a season-loan from Barcelona.

The Merseyside club hold an option to make the move permanent for €55million (£47.1m; $63.6m). Liverpool have not paid a loan fee and Araujo has taken a pay cut in order to facilitate the move.

The Athletic reported on Saturday that Liverpool were set to sign the defender, who underwent a medical on Sunday. He is expected to join team training this week.

Club sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, indicated that that Liverpool were attracted to the opportunity by Araujo’s leadership skills and versatility. They added that the club will continue to assess their options in the transfer market, with a winger considered a priority.

We have agreed a deal to sign Ronald Araujo on loan from FC Barcelona for the 2026-27 season, subject to a successful work permit application and international clearance 🙌🔴 pic.twitter.com/RGfTzawvqR

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 10, 2026

The arrival of Araujo, who is also capable of playing at right-back, helps bolster Andoni Iraola’s defensive options, with the Liverpool head coach previously saying that the team were “thin” at the back.

Ibrahima Konate left as a free agent and joined Real Madrid following the expiration of his contract, while Giovanni Leoni is still out after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in September and Joe Gomez is expected to miss the start of the campaign due to a muscular issue sustained in pre-season.

French defender Jeremy Jacquet has officially joined the club this summer from Rennes after a deal was agreed for his transfer in the winter window, though he has not appeared since February due to a shoulder injury and separate issue has kept him out of Liverpool’s pre-season.

Araujo joined Barcelona from Boston River in his native Uruguay in January 2019 and has made 213 appearances for the team, winning La Liga three times.

The 27-year-old featured 38 times in all competitions for Barcelona last season, though only made 18 starts. He was as granted indefinite leave by Barcelona at the beginning of December after requesting a period of absence and returned to the team at the end of January.

The Atlanta Braves host the New York Mets to open a three-game series at Truist Park, with first pitch at 7:15 p.m. ET on Monday. Bryce Elder (8-6, 3.69 ERA) gets the start for the Braves, who are 71-47 this season and first in the NL East. Christian Scott (3-3, 3.15 ERA) is expected to start for the Mets, who are 52-67 and fifth in the NL East.

How to watch New York Mets vs. Atlanta Braves

Mets vs. Braves odds

• Favorite Moneyline: Braves -149
• Underdog Moneyline: Mets +125
• Total: 8.5
• Total Over Odds: -105
• Total Under Odds: -115

Injury reports

Braves

Reynaldo López: 15 Day IL (Knee), Robert Suarez: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Spencer Strider: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Spencer Schwellenbach: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Joey Wentz: 60 Day IL (Knee), Joe Jimenez: 60 Day IL (Knee)

Mets

Mark Vientos: 10 Day IL (Hand), Juan Soto: 10 Day IL (Calf), Austin Warren: 15 Day IL (Forearm), Cionel Perez: 15 Day IL (Forearm), Tylor Megill: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Justin Hagenman: 60 Day IL (Rib), Reed Garrett: 60 Day IL (Elbow)

Stats to know

• Matt Olson is hitting for a .266 BA, .343 OBP and .552 SLG with a 25% strikeout rate and a 10.1% walk rate. His OPS is .895, which ranks 9th in MLB, and he has scored 83 runs. In 516 plate appearances, he has hit 34 home runs (3rd in MLB) and driven in 72 runs (14th in MLB).
• In 506 plate appearances, Ozzie Albies is hitting .259/.310/.432 with a .742 OPS. He has hit 19 long balls, driven in 63 runs and scored 71 times.
• Carson Benge has hit 13 home runs this season. He has also tallied 47 RBIs and has scored 61 runs. In 467 plate appearances, he has recorded a .272 BA, .332 OBP and .412 SLG with a 7.3% walk rate and a 21.8% strikeout rate. He has been effective on the base paths, recording 18 steals on 21 attempts.
• In 511 plate appearances, Bo Bichette has slashed .263/.307/.378 this season. He has hit 11 long balls and driven in 59 runs with a strikeout rate of 18.4% and a walk rate of 6.1%. and has scored 57 runs.

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