Meet Barcelona’s New Egyptian Gem: Hamza Abdelkarim Joins Barça Project

FC Barcelona have reached an agreement with Egyptian giants Al Ahly to sign young forward Hamza Abdelkarim, one of the most promising talents in African football, in a move that could shape the club’s attacking future. The deal involves a loan with an option to buy, aligning with Barcelona’s strategy of investing in young players with international upside.

Abdelkarim, an 18-year-old attacker, is expected to travel to Spain in the coming days to undergo medical examinations and join Barça Atlètic, Barcelona’s reserve side, which serves as a key development pathway before a potential promotion to the first team.

The agreement with Al Ahly does not include an immediate loan fee, but it does feature a purchase option valued at up to €3 million, with performance-related bonuses that could increase the total amount depending on the player’s development and impact.

Speaking previously, Al Ahly president Walid Salah confirmed that he hopes Abdelkarim will succeed at Barcelona and that the move will allow the Egyptian club to capitalize on its investment in the player’s development.

Hamza Mohamed Abdelkarim Selim was born on January 1, 2008, and developed through Al Ahly’s youth academy, one of the most prestigious in African football. His standout performances at youth level—including impressive displays with Egypt’s U-17 national team—placed him on the radar of several European clubs before Barcelona finalized the deal.

The young striker recorded 12 goals and six assists in 19 appearances for Egypt’s U-17 side, boosting his reputation as a goal-scoring forward with strong international potential.

Abdelkarim’s arrival at Barcelona also reflects the club’s broader policy of nurturing global talent and diversifying its academy, bringing in young players capable of growing within the reserve team and, eventually, competing for a place in the first team under head coach Hansi Flick and his staff.

The agreement with Al Ahly represents an important step in strengthening sporting ties between the two clubs and opens the door for more African talents to follow a similar pathway to Europe through structured academies like Barcelona’s.