Julián Araujo

Julián Vicente Araujo Zúñiga (born 13 August 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back for La Liga club Barcelona. Born in the United States, he represents the Mexico national team.

Youth
Araujo was born in Lompoc, California, and is of Mexican descent. He attended Lompoc High School. After two years at Lompoc High School, he left home and joined Barça Residency Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona in 2017.

In March 2017, Araujo had committed to playing college soccer at the University of California, Santa Barbara from 2018 onward.

LA Galaxy II
Araujo made his professional debut in a 2–2 draw with Seattle Sounders FC 2 on 4 October 2018, coming on as an 88th-minute substitute for Nate Shultz.

LA Galaxy
On 1 March 2019, LA Galaxy acquired Araujo after trading $50,000 of Targeted Allocation Money to Colorado Rapids to gain the first spot in the Waivers Order.

Araujo made 108 total appearances with the Galaxy, scoring once in the regular season and again in the playoffs. He became a regular starter beginning in 2019 and finished 2021 and 2022 as the team's defender of the year.

Barcelona
On 1 February 2023, FC Barcelona and LA Galaxy agreed on a transfer for Araujo. The paperwork, however, was delivered 18 seconds late, and the deal was left in limbo after FIFA rejected the transfer but the Court of Arbitration for Sport overruled. Ultimately, by 17 February Araujo was transferred to Barcelona.

Loan to Las Palmas
On 1 August 2023, Araujo was loaned to La Liga side Las Palmas for the entire 2023–24 season.

On 31 October, Araujo scored his first goal with the club in a 3–0 away win against Manacor to advance in the second round of the Copa del Rey. On 1 December, he scored his first league goal with the club, scoring the first goal in their 2–0 win over Getafe. On 7 January 2024, during a Copa del Rey match against Tenerife, Araujo picked up a red card for a violent conduct on Nacho Martínez after Nacho Martínez had gone down in the penalty area. On 10 January, it was announced that he would serve a four-match suspension. He returned a month later on 10 February, coming on in stoppage-time for Marvin Park in their 2–0 win over Valencia.

United States
Araujo was eligible to play for the United States and Mexico.

After an injury to Ayo Akinola, Araujo was named to the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup squad to represent the United States under-20.

Araujo was called into the United States national soccer team by Gregg Berhalter for the January 2020 camp, but did not make an official match appearance. He was called up again in December 2020 for a game against El Salvador, in which he made his senior level debut. Araujo was named to the final 20-player United States under-23 roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in March 2021.

On 18 June 2021, Araujo was named to the preliminary 59-player USMNT roster for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup but was left off the final roster on 1 July 2021. Berhalter cited Araujo's dual citizenship and unwillingness to become cap-tied to the USMNT.

Mexico
On 13 August 2021, sports media in Mexico reported that Araujo himself had filed and submitted the one-time switch to FIFA in order to join Mexico. As of 4 October 2021 FIFA officially approved Araujo's case.

On 27 November 2021, Araujo was included in the Mexico national football team call-up by Gerardo Martino for a friendly match against Chile set to take place on 8 December. He was given a starting berth in Mexico's 2–2 draw, playing the full 90 minutes. In making his debut, Araujo became the third player in the history of the Mexico–United States rivalry in having represented both national teams alongside Martín Vásquez and Edgar Castillo.

In the summer of 2023, Araujo was part of Mexico national team that reached 3rd-place finish at the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals and won the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Honours
United States U20
 * CONCACAF U-20 Championship: 2018

Mexico
 * CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2023

Individual
 * MLS All-Star: 2021, 2022
 * LA Galaxy Defender of the Year: 2020, 2021