Liverpool Unveil Ronald Araujo's Squad Number as Loan Move Is Sealed

Liverpool have finalized an agreement to sign Barcelona center back Ronald Araújo on a season-long loan, the Merseyside club confirmed on Monday evening. The Reds have not paid a loan fee but will cover the entirety of Araújo's wages for the upcoming season. They will also hold an option to make the transfer permanent next summer for $63.6 million (€55 million, £47.1 million). Barcelona sporting director Deco was reportedly a key figure in the swift negotiations.

"I can't wait to get started. I'm very, very happy," Araújo said, having also accepted a wage reduction to facilitate the deal. "I'm excited to be here at this massive club with lots of history. I'm excited to meet my teammates, excited to get started playing and I'm very motivated and really up for getting going.

"I think it was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career. I think it was a move that was necessary for me to take. As soon as I heard that interest from Liverpool, everything went into action really, really quickly.

"As I say, I'm super happy to be here and excited to get started. I'm glad about the interest and it was the right move at the right time."

The transfer comes as Araújo found himself slipping down Barcelona's defensive hierarchy and Liverpool desperately seeking center back cover, a situation that has only deteriorated since the beginning of preseason. Virgil van Dijk, Jérémy Jacquet, Joe Goméz and Giovanni Leoni are Liverpool's senior center backs; however, the latter three have all been hampered by injuries, and Van Dijk has yet to play since the World Cup and faces durability concerns at 35 years old.

Liverpool Reveals Ronald Araujo's Jersey Number

Introducing our 🆕 no.33 👊 pic.twitter.com/T46iSceRLu

Araújo will wear No. 33 in the Premier League this season, a shirt number the 27-year-old hasn't used since the 2019–20 campaign with Barcelona, his first year at the club.

The number hasn't been seen at Liverpool in a decade, since Jordon Ibe wore it in 2016. The jersey was previously assigned to Jonjo Shelvey, Sebastian Leto and Neil Mellor, going back to the 2002–03 season.

"It's a number that I like, a number that is special to me," Araújo said of his decision to choose No. 33. "Funnily enough, way back when I made my debut as a professional, that was the number I was wearing back then.

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"But it has a personal meaning for me as well, it has a meaning which is all to do with my faith and my relationship with Jesus and God and religion.

"It's a subject I spoke about and had a good conversation about with my friends, my family, my partner and my parents. It's a number I'm very pleased on a number of levels to be wearing."

Araújo wore No. 4 throughout his past six seasons with Barcelona; however, that number is currently occupied by Van Dijk at Liverpool.