Bournemouth have added their second defensive recruit of the summer transfer window by signing Mexico international Julian Araujo on a five-year deal from Barcelona for £8.5 million.
The 22-year-old joined Barca from LA Galaxy in 2023 and never made an appearance for the Spanish side, spending last season on loan at Las Palmas.
“He’s a young player with high potential and we’re pleased to have beaten lots of competition for his signature,” said Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake.
“We believe that we have all the tools here for Julian to build on the quality he already has. We really look forward to welcoming him.”
Araujo joins two weeks after the arrival of Spain under-21 centre-back Huijsen, who signed for an initial £12.8m from Juventus which could rise to £15.3m with add-ons.
CONFIRMATION 🔊 pic.twitter.com/oirl7d3Csk
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 13, 2024
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Julian Araujo stats
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has made right-back Araujo his seventh signing of the summer as he bids to build on a promising first season in charge which resulted in a 12th-placed finish.
Born in the US, Araujo joined the Galaxy in 2018 and was named the club’s Defender of the Year for each of the two subsequent years.
As a US youth international, Araujo made his senior USMNT bow in 2020 but Mexico moved in to give him his El Tri debut in 2021.
He has gone on to make 12 more Mexico appearances, helping them win the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2023.
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 13, 2024
Barcelona: Araujo stats
An MLS All-Star in 2020 and 2021, Araujo played 108 times for the Galaxy before joining Barca in February 2023, although his signing was subject to a curious dispute when the paperwork was deemed to have been completed seconds too late.
“Julian joining 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,” Galaxy head coach and sporting director Greg Vanney said at the time.
New Barcelona manager Hansi Flick used Araujo during Barcelona’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City on July 31 as part of their US tour.
