Barcelona are seeking to sign LA Galaxy right-back Julian Araujo before the European transfer window closes on Tuesday, multiple sources have confirmed to ESPN.
Barcelona have been eyeing Araujo and want to sign him on loan first, with the option to sign the deal permanently given Hector Bellerin’s possible transfer to Sporting Club Lisbon.
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Sources told ESPN that Araujo, 21, would initially be registered with Barca’s B team if signed, but the Catalan club sees a possibility for him to join the first team in the short term.
If Bellerin joins Sporting Lisbon this week – a deal that is likely to happen once Tottenham complete the signing of Pedro Polo from the Portuguese side – sources tell ESPN – then Barca will be without a natural. right back.
Jules Kund, Ronald Araujo, Sergi Roberto and Alejandro Balde have all filled the position this season, but Bellerin has been frequently substituted.
Araujo, who was born in California, represented the United States at the youth level and made one appearance for the senior team. In 2021, however, he switched his allegiance to Mexico, despite not playing for the El Tri since making his third appearance in a friendly against Suriname in June 2022.
Barca hope to complete the deal before Tuesday’s deadline, but the source added it was a “complex situation”. A source close to the U.S. talks said, “This is not the end result by any means.”
Araujo has been a regular for the Galaxy over the past two seasons and convincing MLS to let him go on loan initially was no easy task.
In addition, the operation may also have to be approved by La Liga, although registering him with the B team may be a workaround.
Barca were unable to sign midfielder Garvey to a new contract last week due to the league’s wage constraints, although La Liga president Javier Tebas confirmed on Monday that the club will be out this month following the departures of Gerard Pique and Memphis Depay. There is indeed “some wiggle room”.
Pique announced his retirement in December last year, while Memphis joined Atletico Madrid in early January with an initial price of 3 million euros.
ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle contributed to this report.
