It is expected to be a busy January transfer window at Celtic, and their first new recruit of the winter is already through the door. On Friday morning, the club confirmed the signing of right-back Julián Araujo, joining on loan from Bournemouth for the remainder of the season.
With the Celts currently three points behind Premiership leaders Hearts, the 24-year-old is expected to be followed by plenty of other new recruits throughout the course of this month. After a catastrophic summer window, supporters are demanding plenty of activity. So, who is Araujo, and why does his arrival suggest under-fire manager Wilfried Nancy is in for the long haul?
Who is new Celtic signing Julián Araujo?
Born and raised in California, Arajuo began his career at LA Galaxy, making 109 senior appearances for the MLS side. He then made a surprise move to Barcelona in February 2023 for $4.3 million. Initially, the transfer was rejected by FIFA, as the paperwork was submitted 18 seconds later, but was finalised two weeks later by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, following an appeal.
He never actually made a senior appearance for Barça, spending the 2023/24 season on loan elsewhere in La Liga with Las Palmas. He impressed in the Canary Islands, so much so that Bournemouth paid €10 million to secure his signature 18 months ago.
In a season and a half on the English South Coast, Araujo has made just 14 appearances for the Cherries, not seeing a single minute of Premier League action this season, thereby venturing north of Hadrian's Wall in search of experience.
Despite being born in the US, Araujo is a Mexican international, earning 16 caps for el Tri. He has won two CONCACAF Gold Cups, starting knockout stage victories over Saudi Arabia and then Honduras at last summer's edition. However, he has not been called up by Javier Aguirre subsequently, so he will be determined to impress in Glasgow ahead of a World Cup on home soil.
Where Julián Araujo will fit in at Celtic
Right-back has been a problem position for Celtic all season long. Back in August, Alistair Johnston suffered a torn hamstring during the infamous Champions League play-off against Kairat. He was then rushed back by Brendan Rodgers, only to re-aggravate the issue against Sturm Graz in October, not seen since. As a result, understudy Anthony Ralston and teenager Colby Donovan, who only made his debut this season, have been filling in.
Well, since the arrival of Nancy, the Frenchman has switched to a 3-4-2-1 shape. Due to limited centre-back options, Ralston has been used at the back, meaning winger Yang Hyun-jun has most commonly been deployed as a makeshift wing-back, but that will surely now become Araujo's role.
The Mexican will surely relish be utilised in this position. He is an attack-minded full-back, so should thrive given extra freedome to get forward. During the 2021 MLS season, he registered six assists, the second-most of any defender, and created eight big chances, while racking up 46 passes into the opposition penalty area, thereby ranked 13th in the division. Of course, Araujo's time in North America overlaps with Nancy becoming CF Montréal head coach in 2021.
Thus, it would be a surprise if the manager did not have some say in this move, suggesting the board do back him, despite having lost five of seven matches to date. With the Mexican unlikely to debut during Saturday's Old Firm, could his first outing in hoops come against Dundee United a week later?