Sports World

For some football fans, the summer is the part of the calendar that they look forward to the most - and that's not just because it's filled by a World Cup every four years! Rather, it's because the end of the season means only one thing: It's time for transfers! The 2026 window is once again proving to be busy, with some huge names making big-money moves before deadline day on September 1.

We know that some transfers turn out well for all parties involved, but there are plenty where at least one of the clubs, or even the player, are left wondering what might have been had they made a different decision while at the negotiating table.

GOAL is here, then, to ensure you know who did the best out of every massive deal before the players have even been officially unveiled. Throughout the summer window, we will be grading every done deal as it happens, letting you track the big winners - and losers - of transfer season.

For Barcelona: A sensible move that puts the club in a better position heading into the final weeks of the summer window. Liverpool will reportedly be covering Araujo's salary in full, and given his status as one of Barca's top earners, that will free up room for the Liga champions to register more new signings. Araujo was made captain at Camp Nou towards the end of last season, but only made a total of 11 league starts under Hansi Flick in 2025-25. Although the Uruguayan’s leadership skills and experience will be missed, Barca haven’t relied on him to anchor the backline for some time. The harsh reality is that Araujo was not in Flick plans and the inclusion of a €55m (£47m/$64m) buy option for Liverpool could allow Barca to pocket a significant fee for an unwanted player next summer. It was an unexpected opportunity they had to jump at, though it may now be necessary for Flick to sign another defender, as Barca's squad was already looking thin across the pitch. Grade: B

For Liverpool: An act of desperation. The Reds are reportedly paying £180,000 per week for Araujo to ease a defensive crisis after Ibrahima Konate’s free transfer to Real Madrid. With Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni injured, and fellow new signing Jeremy Jacquet still working his way back to full fitness after shoulder surgery, Liverpool had to bring in another centre-half. Araujo can also operate as a right-back, so on paper he makes sense as a stop-gap. However, the 27-year-old has a chequered injury record himself, and has struggled to convince at the highest level in recent seasons. It remains to be seen if he can adapt quickly to the intensity of the Premier League, or reliably sync up with club skipper Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool reportedly baulked at paying £60m for earlier summer target Ezri Konsa, but a big investment in the Aston Villa and England defender would have been a less risky move. Araujo will arrive at Anfield with a lot of pressure on his shoulders and plenty of questions to answer. Grade: C-

For Araujo: A golden chance to play week in, week out again and rebuild his confidence. Araujo is fortunate that another elite European club has sought him out given his struggles for consistency, and will be aware of the potential repercussions if he fails. He will surely be extremely motivated to prove his doubters wrong, with a view to really enjoying his football again, having come through a challenging period last year that saw him seek a break for his mental health. Being roared on by the fervent Anfield crowd will certainly give Araujo a major adrenaline boost. He’s also a front-footed defender who will bring real aerial presence to the Liverpool defence, as well as a strong fit for Iraola’s aggressive system. This fresh start could be exactly what the Uruguay international needs, but he will have to cut out the basic errors that he faced so much criticism for at the Camp Nou. Grade: B+

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