LA Galaxy right back Julian Araujo completes transfer to FC Barcelona

MLS continues to be a pipeline to Europe.

21-year-old LA Galaxy right back Julian Araujo will join FC Barcelona. the Galaxy confirmed Friday morning after a transfer saga a bit more complicated than either team might have wanted. The clubs agreed on a $4 million dollar fee according to multiple reports, and LA will retain a sell-on percentage of the transfer fee if Araujo is sold to another club. His contract with the Catalan club runs until June 2026.

Although the transfer had complications due to necessary documents reportedly arriving seconds after the transfer window shut, the move has now gone through. With the registration the main issue, Barcelona has been looking to get Araujo implemented onto the squad this winter. After FIFA didn’t allow the transfer to go through, the top officials at the club went to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for help to allow this move to go through 17 days after the close of the European transfer window. According to Barcelona’s press release, Araujo will be with Barça Atlètic, the squad’s B team this winter, and begin training under coach and Mexican Legend Rafa Márquez.

Related: Galactic Notebook: Clarity on Araujo and finishing off Coachella

This isn’t the first time Araujo has been part of the Blaugrana in some capacity. He was part of Barcelona’s developmental academy in Arizona during his youth years before joining the LA Galaxy academy. The Catalan club has a need at right back after selling Hector Bellerin, leaving Sergi Roberto as the only right back on the roster.

“Julian joining FC Barcelona is a great story of a young kid from Southern California coming into the LA Galaxy Academy, through LA Galaxy II and excelling with the First Team,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach and Sporting Director Greg Vanney via press release. “As we continue to evolve as a club, we’re leaning heavily into the LA Galaxy Academy development side. We are going to help develop players who can play at the biggest clubs in the world, but can also help the LA Galaxy win championships. We wish Julián all the best in the next phase of his career.”

Araujo signed a first-team contract with the LA Galaxy in March 2019 and would go on to make 108 appearances across all competitions for the Galaxy. He’s accumulated two goals and 20 assists with the Blue, White, and Gold.

His highlight moment with the club is his game-winning goal to put the Galaxy past Nashville SC in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.

What happens next?

Since Vanney took over the Galaxy, Araujo’s been a key component on both sides of the ball. Araujo took his game to a new level in 2021, becoming an MLS All-Star plus the only defender nominated for MLS Young Player of the Year. His constant ability to get into the final third and his overlapping runs was the engine to LA’s attacks down the right flank that season. 

The current likely first-choice right back option, 32-year-old Kelvin Leerdam, has plenty of MLS experience but has seen little playing time since signing with the Galaxy as a free agent in 2022. The Suriname international made 10 appearances in MLS with five starts last campaign. His last appearance during the 2022 season was during a 4-2 loss on the road to Sporting Kansas City on Aug. 6. His last season as a starter was during the 2021 season with Inter Miami.

Araujo and Leerdam have very different playing styles – something Vanney has to consider tactically. Araujo’s tendency to get forward helped LA offensively but the 20-year-old also struggled not to get caught out of position on counter attacks. Leerdam will stay back and not risk being caught too high up the pitch. With less than 500 minutes in MLS last season, this preseason is essential to getting him back into match sharpness.

Although he’s got MLS Cup-winning experience with the Seattle Sounders, Leerdam’s age clearly means he’s not a long-term solution for the club. With a need in the wide areas due to the surprise departure of Samuel Grandsir, the search for a right back is added to the list of needs for the Galaxy.

Due to sanctions for not classifying Cristian Pavon as Designated Player in 2019, the Galaxy can only sign players from outside Major League Soccer during this primary transfer window (closing on Apr. 24) and not the secondary transfer window that runs from July 5 to Aug. 2.  

The Galaxy scouting department will be tested in the upcoming months. LA has not been active on the incoming end of the transfer window, just eight days from the first MLS game of 2023 against LAFC at the Rose Bowl. Locating and finding the right replacements for Araujo will be key. Alongside MLS and the U.S. Open Cup, the Galaxy will participate in the Leagues Cup this summer with Club León and the Vancouver Whitecaps in their group. Like all MLS teams that will participate, depth is needed to keep players fresh with more games added to the schedule. The Galaxy offseason continues to add more questions than answers.