Barcelona has officially secured the permanent signing of Egyptian prodigy Hamza Abdelkarim from Al Ahly, with the deal valued at up to €5 million. The announcement was made by Al Ahly, confirming that the Catalan club has activated the purchase clause for the talented striker, who is set to showcase his skills at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Details of the Transfer

In a social media post, Al Ahly stated, "Spain's Barcelona requests to activate the purchase option for Hamza Abdelkarim." The deal involves an initial payment of €3 million (approximately R57 million), with the total cost potentially increasing to €5 million (around R95 million) based on performance-related bonuses. Barcelona had initially brought Abdelkarim to the club in February, making him the first Egyptian player to join one of their football teams.

Abdelkarim's Rising Star

Hamza Abdelkarim, now 18 years old, has quickly risen to prominence in African football over the past year. He developed through Al Ahly's renowned youth academy and was loaned to Barcelona Atletic until June 2026. His impressive performances, including a hat-trick for the U19 team, have drawn the attention of the senior coaching staff, leading to his inclusion in Egypt's squad for the World Cup, where he will be the youngest Egyptian player participating.

This transfer marks a significant step in Abdelkarim's burgeoning career. With the opportunity to perform on the world stage, he aims to build on his youth-level success and further establish himself as a key player for both club and country. Former Egypt international Ahmed Hossam Mido has publicly supported the young striker, encouraging fans to rally behind one of Egypt's most promising talents.