Uruguayan goalkeeper Ignacio de Arruabarrena, who also holds Spanish nationality, has returned to Arouca, one and a half years after leaving. The 28-year-old became a free agent after he did not reach an agreement to renew his contract with the Ecuadorian club Barcelona SC, for whom he played 32 games last season. Following spells at Al-Wehda in Saudi Arabia and the Ecuadorian side, he accepted the proposal to rejoin the Portuguese club, where he previously made 66 appearances between 2022 and 2024. Arruabarrena, who is Arouca's fourth winter signing, has signed a contract until the end of the season and will wear the number 12 shirt. The goalkeeper has eight caps for Uruguay U23 and a current market value of €1.00m, according to Transfermarkt.