FIFA rejects Julian Araujo move to Barcelona

Julian Araujo’s move from LA Galaxy to Barcelona has been turned down   by FIFA after documentation for the transfer was filed too late, a spokesman for world football’s governing body told ESPN.

Barca and LA Galaxy agreed a fee potentially rising to €4 million for Araujo to move to the Spanish club on Tuesday, a source told ESPN. However, Barcelona director of football Mateu Alemany said that a “system error” caused the club to miss the midnight deadline at the end of the transfer window by just 18 seconds..

A source at the Catalan club had said they would continue to fight for the deal to be concluded, citing “technical problems” which they can prove delayed the administration being completed.

However, a FIFA spokesperson told ESPN on Friday that the deal would not be permitted.

“FIFA can confirm that the transfer of the player Julian Araujo from LA Galaxy to FC Barcelona was not completed in line with the applicable regulations,” they said.

Tuesday was the final of the January transfer window in the majority of European leagues and Barca can now not sign anyone else until the summer.

READ ALSOMLS: Araujo trains with LA Galaxy as Barcelona wait for FIFA ruling

It was not the only transfer to miss the deadline, with Hakim Ziyech’s switch to Paris Saint-Germain on loan from Chelsea also falling foul of the stated timeframe.

Araujo, 21, was set to sign for Barca’s reserve team in the Spanish third tier but the plan was for him to be in and around the first team, who have no recognised right-back after Hector Bellerin joined Sporting Club this week.