Significant financial hurdles facing any Julian Araujo to Celtic deal

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The Celtic Star

·20 mars 2026

Significant financial hurdles facing any Julian Araujo to Celtic deal

Celtic’s hopes of securing a permanent deal for Julian Araujo appear increasingly uncertain, with wages emerging as a major obstacle…

According to Daily Record journalist Michael Gannon, the Hoops face a significant challenge due to the defender’s current earnings at Bournemouth, which are understood to be far beyond Celtic’s wage structure.

While there is growing enthusiasm among supporters to retain the on-loan full-back, the financial realities could ultimately prove decisive.

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There has been optimism surrounding Araujo’s future, with his cousin suggesting that “chances are high” he could remain in Glasgow beyond this season. However, Gannon has indicated that such a move is far from straightforward.

Speaking on the Record Celtic Podcast, he said: “Listen, this is going to go down to cash. And it might come down to the man himself. Because he’s got two years left on his deal, at least, at Bournemouth. And he’s not on chump change at Bournemouth, I’ll put it that way. Because this is a guy that signed from Barcelona, for nine million quid.”

“So a £9 million signing from Barcelona comes with a hefty wage bill, and I’m led to believe it’s somewhere north of £65,000-£70,000 a week. Listen, I’ve not got that nailed down, but you’re in that ballpark. That £60,000 a week-plus ballpark.”

Julian Araujo celebrates at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock 2 Celtic 3. Scottish Premiership. Sunday 15 February 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“That’s the going rate for a back-up right-back in the Premier League these days, scarily enough. So you’re in that ballpark, and he’s got a couple of years left.”

Gannon added: “So for Araujo to stay at Celtic, he’s going to need to take a pay cut for a start. So he’d need to negotiate and either walk away from two years on that kind of money and say ‘rip up my contract, let’s wish for the best. Or you can sell me for four or five million quid…”

“So financially, it’s a tricky one. If he can say, ‘give me a year’s wages and I’ll go and take a pay cut’, then yeah, but that’s not realistic. This guy’s got a family to look after, and you can’t expect him to do that.”

Araujo has featured 13 times for Celtic since arriving on loan in January and has quickly become a popular player among supporters with his performances.

Julian Araujo at Ibrox. Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Internationally, Mexico manager Javier Aguirre is monitoring the 24-year-old as the next World Cup approaches, with Araujo keen to stay in contention for selection.

Off the pitch, it has been a significant week for the defender following the birth of his first child, a baby boy named Angelo Jude. However, his recent absence from Celtic’s 3-1 victory over Motherwell was due to injury, as confirmed by Martin O’Neill.

Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill at post-match media conference. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

We’ll get an injury update today from Martin O’Neill, although the Celtic fan media will NOT be present as the Board’s pathetic ban continues indefinitely. Our day will come.

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order