Barcelona defender’s €60 million release clause expires today, rises to €1bn tomorrow | OneFootball

Ronald Araujo’s contract renewal, signed in late January 2025 and running until 2031, includes a temporary release clause allowing him to leave Barcelona for just €60 million.

As confirmed by Mundo Deportivo, that clause expires today, Tuesday, 15 July. Starting tomorrow, any club wanting to sign him would have to pay the full buyout clause of €1 billion.

How the renewal and release clause came about

During the January transfer window, Juventus attempted to sign Araujo with a €35 million offer, which Barcelona rejected outright.

That bid accelerated renewal talks, and the new contract was finalised shortly after, maintaining the €1 billion clause but including a brief summer exit clause.

The clause allowed Araujo to leave between 1 and 15 July 2025 by paying €60 million. From 16 July onwards, the standard release clause of €1 billion resumes.

Ronald Araujo not considering an exit. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Initially, Barcelona had aimed to set the temporary clause at €100 million, an amount Bayern Munich once considered paying. However, the €60 million option was ultimately agreed upon, valid only for this summer.

Not going anywhere

Despite the window being open, neither Araujo nor the club are entertaining offers, and none have been received. As things stand, Andreas Christensen remains the only centre-back considered transferable.

Araujo has made it clear to Barcelona officials that he has no intention of leaving. The Uruguayan is determined to compete for a place in the starting eleven alongside Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi, who have been Hansi Flick’s preferred pairing.

That is his personal goal for this season, especially after overcoming the injury he suffered last summer with Uruguay during the Copa América, which impacted the rest of his campaign.

Araujo has made it clear publicly that staying at Barcelona remains his plan. On Sunday, during the team’s return to training, he sent another message.

Last week, when asked if he was staying at Barcelona, Araujo’s response was firm, as he said: “For me, yes.”