L.A. finally transfers Araujo to Barcelona
The Julian Araujo move to FC Barcelona is finally official.
At the close of the January transfer window, the Galaxy and Barcelona had a deal finalized, but according to reports, Barcelona was approximately 20 seconds late in finalizing and submitting the deal to FIFA, sending the move into limbo.
Araujo, who up until the transfer deadline was training with the Galaxy in preparation for the 2023 season, was moved to individual training as the sides attempted to get the move sorted out. On Thursday, Araujo and his agents flew to Barcelona to complete the deal.
On Friday, he was officially introduced and as of now, he will begin training with Barca Atletic (or Barca B). The deal is signed through June 30, 2026.
“We’ve had clubs poking around for some time including in the last window last year. Barcelona, kind of late in a window, came into the equation, asking about Jules and what possibilities existed,” Galaxy coach and sporting director Greg Vanney said. “Which was kind of the same thing that happened this time. It was pretty late in the window and this time things picked up pace heavily at the end and things kind of came together within the last three days of the window.”
The Galaxy will receive a reported $4 million in the transfer and will “retain a sell-on percentage of the transfer if Araujo is sold to another club.”
The process was complicated with the move going from a loan deal to a permanent deal.
“There was a negotiation there, it went from one version of a move to another version of a move,” Vanney said. “As that process played out, you then have a kid that’s obviously blown away by the opportunity to go play at a club like Barcelona as well as who is excited, whose goal was at some point in his career was to go play in Europe.”
Araujo, a Lompoc native who signed with the Galaxy as a 17-year-old, burst into the first-team lineup in 2019 and had become one of the best right backs in Major League Soccer. He initially joined the Galaxy Academy from the Barca Residency Academy in 2018.
“It’s a wonderful story of a young Southern California native who came to L.A. Galaxy Academy with a dream to play for the L.A. Galaxy and he did so through the process of being in the academy, being in the second team and making his move into the first team,” Vanney said. “He’s played now three years inside the first team, almost 8,000 minutes, and he’s been recognized for his growth and the effort he’s put in.
“He’s going to be moving to one of the biggest clubs in the world, which is exciting in many ways for him and his story.”
In his time with the Galaxy, Araujo made 100 career regular-season appearances (89 starts) and was a two-time MLS AllStar. Last season, he recorded nine assists in 39 total appearances.
Although Araujo has made the move, his status for the remainder of the Spanish season is still unknown. Barcelona appealed to Court of Arbitration Sport in an effort to get Araujo registered and have him play this season.
“To all of my teammates, coaches and staff, it was a pleasure to represent the badge alongside all of you,” Araujo said in a Twitter post. “I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to develop from an academy member to a first team player with the biggest club in MLS. The Galaxy will always be a part of my story and it was an honor to share these experiences with all of you.”
The Galaxy conclude their preseason with a 6:30 p.m. home exhibition today against Toronto FC.