The latest rumors say Barcelona is working to bring young Egyptian talent Hamza Abdelkarim to the Barça Atlètic squad, with the deal expected to be finalized in January, coinciding with the striker’s 18th birthday. The Catalan club currently appears to be in the best position to sign the forward, who has expressed a strong desire to wear the Blaugrana shirt.
The club’s proposal, according to Egyptian media, would see Abdelkarim join on loan until the end of the season, with Barcelona covering the remainder of his salary and including an option to purchase for four million euros – one million guaranteed and the rest in performance-based incentives. Al Ahly, however, has asked for a higher fixed fee and additional guarantees. Ahmed Shobeir, former Egyptian international goalkeeper, explained on his radio show that “Al Ahly does not oppose Hamza Abdelkarim moving to Barça” but wants some form of economic compensation for the player, whom they see as a long-term asset.
Abdelkarim has emerged as a natural striker, a classic 9 with strong finishing skills, physical presence, and the ability to play well with his back to goal. He shone at the recent U-17 World Cup in Qatar, scoring against Haiti and Venezuela, and was praised for his Man-of-the-Match performance against Angola at the Africa U-17 Cup, helping Egypt qualify for the World Cup.
Barça Atlètic is in urgent need of forwards after injuries sidelined Òscar Gistau, Víctor Barberá, and Sama Nomoko, and the club sees Abdelkarim as a perfect fit. According to reports, sources close to the player say he has been clear about his wish to move to Barcelona and has asked Al Ahly to allow him to leave in January. If the option to buy is exercised, he would sign a three-year contract and could take part in the first-team pre-season this summer, a promise that reportedly convinced the player and his family to push for the move.
Speaking about the speculation surrounding his future, Abdelkarim said, “Of course I deal with the pressure. I try not to focus on what is being said… I focus on my work on the pitch.” He also emphasized his pride in representing Al Ahly: “It is an honor for me to represent the club,” and added that external interest “motivates any player.”
While other European clubs, including Bayern Munich, Sporting Lisbon, and Lyon, are reportedly monitoring him, Barcelona has positioned itself ahead of competitors thanks to Abdelkarim’s determination to join the club. The negotiations remain ongoing, with the main challenge being to meet Al Ahly’s conditions for compensation while fitting within Barcelona’s financial plan.
