Italian journalist and renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has delivered a crucial update regarding the future of Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, confirming a key factor that has prevented his departure from the Catalan club during the current transfer window.
Araujo, a highly-rated Uruguayan international, has been consistently linked with a move away from Spotify Camp Nou this summer. Barcelona, grappling with persistent financial difficulties and ongoing squad registration challenges under La Liga's stringent Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, had reportedly earmarked several players for potential sales to generate much-needed funds.
🔵🔴 Ronald Araujo’s release clause is back to €1B today after being available for €60m until yesterday. pic.twitter.com/6aPDlvR2Ca
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 16, 2025
Juventus, among other European giants, was strongly tipped to make a move for the robust center-back. Speculation intensified around a temporary clause in Araujo's contract, which allowed clubs to sign him for a reduced fee of £60 million (€65 million) for a specific period during the summer transfer window. This special release clause, valid only between July 1st and July 15th, 2025, represented a significantly lower figure than his standard €1 billion buyout clause, making him an attractive target for interested parties.
Despite the reasonable fee and Barcelona's pressing need for cash, sources close to the club indicate that there was a strong desire to retain Araujo, who is considered a vital asset and a leader within the squad. However, the temporary nature of his reduced release clause meant that Barcelona would have been powerless to prevent his exit had a club matched the stipulated fee.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the £60 million (€65 million) release clause expired on Tuesday, July 15th, 2025. As of today, July 16th, 2025, Ronald Araujo's release clause has reverted to its astronomical €1 billion figure. This effectively shuts the door on any immediate summer move for the defender, as no club is expected to activate such a colossal clause.
Araujo's continued presence is a significant boost on the field, but it also means they will need to explore other avenues to generate funds and navigate their ongoing financial and squad registration challenges.