Barcelona defender Julián Araujo heading to Las Palmas

Although the official Barcelona channels are yet to confirm the deal, Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Mexican right back Julián Araujo will head out on loan for the 2023 season to La Liga side Unión Deportiva Las Palmas.

Araujo has yet to make his senior team debut for Barca, and moving to Las Palmas will allow the 21-year-old to develop his game and become accustomed to the pace of football in La Liga.

Araujo moved to Barcelona in February, although that wasn’t a straightforward transfer.

The paperwork for the deal arrived 18 seconds late and FIFA rejected the transfer on those grounds, a decision that was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

A former member of the Barça Residency Academy in Casa Grande, Araujo made his professional debut for LA Galaxy back in 2018.

He went on to make 100 appearances for the MLS team before switching to Spain, and the coaches in Catalonia have high hopes for his future development.

Heading to Las Palmas on loan

The Gran Canaria team is an ideal destination for Araujo’s first foray into Spanish football.

Current manager García Pimienta is Barcelona born and bred and started his coaching career with the Barcelona youth team all the way back in 2006.

He was in charge of Barcelona B from 2018-2021 before securing his first senior managerial post with Las Palmas.

Based on his history with the team, he’ll know all about developing talent to a point where they’re ready to break into the Barca first team.

In Pimienta’s first season with Las Palmas, he guided the team to promotion finishing second in the Segunda division. This year is shaping up to be a real test defensively, and it’ll be a baptism by fire for Araujo.

Araujo will be hoping to do enough at Las Palmas to prove he’s the long-term answer at right back for Xavi.

Barca is still intent on bringing in a right back with Xavi showing interest in Pablo Maffeo among others.