Ronald Araujo signed with Liverpool: "The ideal move for me"

Ronald Araujo officially signed a one-season contract on Monday with Liverpool, joining on loan from Barcelona. The 27-year-old Uruguay national team defender, who previously captained the Spanish champions but started in only 11 league matches last season, received the number 33 shirt and told the club's official website: "I can't wait to get started. I am very, very happy."

Araujo added:

"I am excited to be here at a huge club with so much history. I am waiting to meet my new teammates, to start playing, and I am full of motivation and ready to get going. I think this was the ideal move for me at this stage of my career. I felt it was a step I needed to take. From the moment I heard about the interest from Liverpool, everything moved very, very fast. As I said, I am happy to be here and excited to get started. I am happy about the interest, and it was the right move at the right time."

Araujo joined Barcelona in 2018 from Uruguay's Boston River, started in the reserve team, and since 2019 has recorded more than 200 appearances for the club. He holds a contract until 2031 and will automatically return to the Catalans next summer, while Liverpool expects him to fill the void created by the departure of Ibrahima Konate to Real Madrid.