AFC Bournemouth and Barcelona have reportedly agreed a fee of £8 million for defender Julián Araujo.
Julián Araujo is a 22-year-old Mexico international who plays as a right-back.
He has come through the youth academies in California and played in Major League Soccer for LA Galaxy before making the move to Spain with Barcelona in February 2023.
Araujo has never made a league appearance for Barcelona but did make his La Liga debut last season whilst on loan with Las Palmas.
Whilst his club career, to date has been less than successful. He has enjoyed his time in the Mexico national side. In the summer of 2023, Mexico came 3rd in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League and won the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
A move to AFC Bournemouth now looks on the cards as he is set to have his medical today (Monday).
Confirmation of what’s been reported elsewhere:
Deal agreed with Barcelona for Julián Araujo.
£8 million
No add-ons & no sell-on.Medical Monday.
Andoni has a new full-back ! Been watched by the club for a number of years…#afcb
— Mark McAdam (@markmcadamtv) August 10, 2024
As the transfer developed over the weekend, Football Insider Fabrizio Romano posted updates of the deal, including a photo of Julián Araujo at a meeting with Simon Francis, AFC Bournemouth’s technical director and Tiago Pinto, AFC Bournemouth’s new president of football operations.
🚨🇲🇽 Bournemouth are in advanced talks to sign Julián Araujo from Barcelona on permanent transfer.
Deal worth around €10m as @tjuanmarti revealed, Barça also asking for sell-on clause but negotiations still ongoing.
Araujo could leave; Barça still think of João Cancelo at RB. pic.twitter.com/k0NVD1tIcU
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 8, 2024
🚨🍒 Julián Araújo to Bournemouth, here we go! All documents are ready as reported yesterday, finally sealed.
Barcelona will receive €10m fixed fee, NO buy back and NO sell-on clause.
Araújo will travel later today as medical tests will be completed on Monday. pic.twitter.com/QOvPAYmsQR
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 11, 2024
🚨🍒 Exclusive pic of Bournemouth directors with next signing Julian Araujo already in UK.
Medical tests today ahead of €10m move from Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/E7cFDzEBEM
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2024
Your say…
Newman104 posted…
Araujo is an excellent defender but has struggled mightily going forward.
He’s very physical and has a ton of pace that allows him to track most wingers. He even essentially shut down likely Ballon d’or winner Vini Jr this past season.
But his technical skills on the ball, his crossing, and his finishing are all pretty bad. He had 0 assists last season, though he did manage to get a goal in league play against Getafe.
Still only 22 he has so much room for development, which is why Barca bought him in the first place. But it appears, much to the ire of their fans, that Barca prefers Cancelo. So they’ll cash in on their young fullback.
Araujo missed Copa America this year with a Hamstring injury. Barca reported he needed surgery on the hamstring on July 15th. Then declared him fully fit on July 26th. I don’t know how that works, but it’s what Barca has done.
He’s been an unused substitute during their pre-season tour of America. – To join the conversation, click here.
