Bournemouth have signed right-back Julian Araujo from Barcelona on a five-year contract in a deal worth €10million (£8.4m).
Our writers — experts in transfers, tactics, data and football finance — have come together to rate this summer’s senior Premier League transfers in five categories, with each aspect given a score out of 100, to reach a total score out of 500. Hence, The Athletic 500. The ratings are explained in more detail here (not all transfers will be rated as there may be a lack of data to support an analysis).
Below is our rating for this move.
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Tactical fit — 64/100
A look at how the player fits into his new club tactically, using Sentient Sports’ bespoke tactical-fit model, explained by our tactical expert.
Araujo’s main strengths are shown when he is out of possession. He averages 3.2 clearances per 90 minutes, placing him in the 92nd percentile (the top eight per cent) among his positional peers. Additionally, he achieves one shot block per 90, ranking in the 99th percentile.
His tackling and interception ability is also excellent. When compared to other full-backs at Bournemouth, Araujo makes more tackles than Max Aarons (2.1) and Adam Smith (1.6) per 90 minutes. He is naturally aggressive and prevents shots on goal or potential attacks. He does this by using his upper body to shrug attackers off the ball or deliver tough tackles.
In this league game against Almeria in April, when on loan at Las Palmas last season, Araujo finds himself in a two-vs-one situation as Cesar Montes plays a pass to Adri Embarba, who is moving into space and heading toward the goal. Araujo uses his speed to support the nearby centre-back by tackling and winning the ball.
While Araujo’s defensive statistics are good, his performance in possession could be an area of improvement. He does not progressively carry the ball and does not receive many progressive passes (2.9 per 90, 20th percentile). This could lead to struggling during build-up.
As shown below using data from smarterscout — which gives players a series of ratings from zero to 99 based on how often they perform a specific action or how effective they are at it — Araujo often keeps his passes simple, focusing on link-up play and maintaining possession.
However, he tends to be less adventurous in his forward actions, which may have contributed to Las Palmas’ struggles in attack despite their tidy style of play. Defensively, Araujo is active both on the ground and in the air, engaging in numerous aerial duels. However, he is not particularly successful in preventing the opposition from progressing further.
His ball control is also an area of concern, with an average of 1.8 miscontrols per 90 minutes, placing him in the 10th percentile.Â
This will be his second season in Europe and the transition could require an adjustment period as he adapts to a more physically demanding league.
Araujo is likely to fit the high-pressing style that Iraola likes to play. He could adapt due to his aggressive pressing engine and zonal awareness while his quick engagement of opponents can stop transitions. This can also initiate quick recoveries of possession and create immediate counter-attacking opportunities for his team-mates. However, he could improve on preventing the opposition from progressing further.
Gillian Kasirye
Season rating: 67/100
Rating the player over the course of last season, using statistics from The Athletic’s data team.
After joining on loan from Barcelona, Araujo had an impressive debut season in La Liga with Las Palmas.
Given that Araujo had not played club football outside of MLS before his season-long loan, he adjusted well to elite European football. Araujo, who came through LA Galaxy’s academy before transferring to Barcelona in 2023, made 25 league appearances for Las Palmas as the Gran Canaria club successfully navigated survival, finishing 16th with 40 points.
Araujo started 15 of those 25 La Liga matches, though if not for a combination of injuries and red card suspensions, he likely would have played an even bigger role. His finest contribution came in Las Palmas’ 2-0 win over Getafe in January when he scored the opening goal with a header.
Elias Burke
Gaming rating: 70/100
Rating the player according to Football Manager 2024’s data across both current and potential ability.
Araujo joins Bournemouth capable of competing for a starting spot in Andoni Iraola’s best XI and has the potential to become one of the league’s best right-backs, according to Football Manager.
On FM24, the latest instalment of the video game, Araujo has a current ability rating of 130, a solid rating for a rotational player on a Premier League team. For context, he shares the same current ability score as team-mates Max Aarons (124) and Milos Kerkez (120).
And while he starts out with a decent score, if he fulfils his 148 potential-ability rating, he’d have a shot at becoming Bournemouth’s best defender. As it stands, Illia Zabarnyi (133) and Marcos Senesi (135) are the best of Iraola’s options in the back line, but Araujo should comfortably pass them if he reaches anything like his potential.
Elias Burke
Financial value rating: 60/100
A four-category summary of the player’s transfer in financial terms — and whether it makes sense for his new club
Market value — 14/25
Araujo has cost Bournemouth £8.4million and although he is short on experience in Europe’s top divisions, it is not a huge investment for a Premier League club. As he demonstrated last season with Las Palmas, he can compete at a high level but there will be much to prove in the Premier League.
Squad cost — 19/25
Bournemouth have plenty to reinvest after the sale of Dominic Solanke to Tottenham Hotspur this summer, and the money spent on Araujo is a modest sum in this market. As well as providing cover and competition in defence, the Mexican has not drained resources for strengthening elsewhere.
Contract sensibility — 14/25
A five-year deal has been the most common length of contract signed this summer, especially in younger players. Bournemouth will have had no reservations about handing out such a deal to a 23-year-old, providing them and the player with long-term assurances.
Resale value — 13/25
Araujo will be about to turn 28 when his new Bournemouth deal expires but the short-term could well see a rise in his value if he can hold his own in the Premier League. That Barcelona are on his CV, as well as international experience, would suggest his stock will hold well enough.
Phil Buckingham
Risk or reward? 68/100
Is there a history of injury or other problems that could crop up and make this deal a bad one in retrospect? Or does the player come with a clean bill of health? Our expert takes a look.
While there is little certainty over how Araujo will adjust to Premier League football with just one interrupted season in Europe under his belt, this appears to be astute business for Bournemouth.
Araujo was signed by Barcelona in 2023 after displaying his quality over 100 appearances for one of MLS’s biggest clubs, LA Galaxy. While few expected the Mexico international to make an immediate impression at the Camp Nou, he had a strong season with Las Palmas. He proved he had the technical quality and physicality to cope with European football — but the jump to the Premier League will be another challenge entirely.
His age and contract length are positive indications that he will be given the necessary adjustment time, and he has the raw technical and physical qualities to suggest he has the skills to make the step — but questions will remain until he proves it. Fortunately, he has a more experienced operator ahead of him in Aarons to make that adjustment more straightforward, allowing Iraola to bed him in over time.
Araujo has recently returned from an injury that kept him out of action for the season’s final weeks, but his record until that point has been clean. And at a relatively cost-efficient price, considering his age and international pedigree, this is a signing that should please Bournemouth supporters.
Elias Burke
Overall rating: 329/500
(Photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
