FC Barcelona Announces Huge First Team Star Contract Renewal

FC Barcelona announced the contract renewal of a key first team star via a statement sent to members of the press on Thursday evening in Catalonia, and also through a tweet published on its X account.

“FC Barcelona and the player Ronald Araujo have reached an agreement to renew his contract, which will tie him to the club until June 30, 2031,” the statement began, in Catalan.

“The Barca defender signed his new contract this Thursday afternoon in an event with FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta; first vice-president Rafa Yuste; and the club’s sporting director Anderson Luis de Souza ‘Deco’,” it added.

Getting Araujo to commit his future to the Blaugrana, and what, as a 25-year-old, should be his peak seasons, is a major coup for Laporta and Deco.

In the current transfer window, the Uruguayan was strongly linked with a surprise move to Italian Serie A giant Juventus.

Outlets from Italy such as La Gazzetta dello Sport first reported news of the potential switch, ahead of Catalan journalist Joan Fontes explaining that Araujo had told his fellow captains he would not renew his contract and had decided to join Juve on the cusp of an eventual 5-2 Spanish Super Cup final thrashing of bitter rival Real Madrid.

These developments occurred at a time when Araujo had recently returned from an injury picked up at the Copa America in July, which kept him sidelined until the turn of 2025.

Made to watch from the sidelines as Inigo Martinez and La Masia pearl Pau Cubarsi formed one of Europe’s best defensive partnerships, he was on the outside of Hansi Flick’s first XI looking in.

During the mentioned installment of El Clasico, however, Inigo picked up an unfortunate knock himself it is believed will keep him sidelined for a month, and Araujo has partnered Cubarsi ever since at the heart of the back line.

In the meantime, Mundo Deportivo reported that talks between Deco and Araujo had resulted in the stalwart not just being persuaded to change his mind and stay, but also sign a new contract.

A week later, Araujo has indeed put pen to paper and for even longer than expected.

SPORT reported that the ex-Boston River center back – who has previously attracted interest from the likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich – would commit until 2030 like Pedri.

Essentially, however, he’s renewed for even longer until mid-2031 which is a huge boost to Culers and Flick.