Article by Aurelian Botezatu – Published Thursday, June 11, 2026, 2:52 p.m. / Updated Thursday, June 11, 2026, 2:52 p.m.
Al Ahly formalized the transfer of Hamza Abdelkarim to Barcelona. The 18-year-old forward was loaned to Can Barça in February.
The Egyptian club have revealed that Barcelona have accessed Hamza Abdelkarim's buyout clause. The Spanish champions had an option valued at 1.5 million euros, plus 5 million in variables, for the footballer who made his debut at El Al Ahly in January 2025.
Hamza Abdelkarim can be seen at the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada
Thus, Barcelona won the battle with Bayern, Olympique Lyon and AC Milan, also interested in the acquisition of the one already compared in Egypt with Mohamed Salah.
Although he is very young, 18 years old, Abdelkarim has already worn the number 9 shirt for the Egyptian national team and was called up by coach Hossam Hassan for the FIFA World Cup which kicks off on Thursday evening (June 11 – July 19).
Hamza Abdelkarim was loaned by Barcelona in February and played for the Catalans' youth team
The 1.82m tall striker arrived at Barcelona in February 2026 on loan from Al Ahly SC until 30 June 2026. And in the time since then, he has convinced everyone at Barca.
In May he scored 3 goals in only 15 minutesin Barcelona's youth team's crushing 9-0 win over AS Monaco, and is already on the radar of Hansi Flick.
Hansi Flick: “We will see if Hamza Abdelkarim is an option for us”
“We plan the preseason and we are looking to bring in new faces from La Masiawhich I did from the very beginning when I signed with Barcelona. When Hamza returns from the World Cup, we will see if he is an option for us,” commented the German coach.
However, everything indicates that the striker noted by the Catalans at the Under-17 World Championship and the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations will be part of the first phase of the Barça Atlètic squad, a team trained by Juliano Belletti that takes part in the second RFEF league.
