In recent years, the FC Barcelona youth academy has once again proven itself as one of the best talent factories in Europe, consistently providing the first team with highly capable young footballers such as Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Fermin Lopez, and Alejandro Balde.
At the same time, the Catalan club has been closely monitoring emerging talents across the globe. One player who has recently attracted their attention is Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim, currently at Al Ahly, who impressed Barcelona scouts during the U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
According to a report from SPORT, the youngster has made it clear to his club that he wants to wear the blaugrana jersey, and progress on his transfer could be expected as early as next week.
Barcelona hopes to finalize a loan deal with an option to buy before the end of the year, with the plan to integrate him into the Barça Atlètic squad in the first days of January to strengthen the team’s striking options.
The club has reportedly moved ahead of Bayern Munich and AC Milan in the race to sign the promising forward, and the player’s own determination to succeed in European football is seen as crucial for the deal.
Al Ahly is open to letting him go but aims to secure financial compensation as well as a percentage of any future transfer if he advances to Barcelona’s first team.
The structure of the deal would be similar to that used in Pedri’s signing from UD Las Palmas, combining a fixed fee with potential variable payments tied to the player’s progression. Discussions between the clubs are ongoing to finalize the terms.
Abdelkarim is a natural striker with a powerful shot and the ability to play effectively with his back to goal while combining well with teammates. His profile fits Barcelona’s style of play, and the club has reportedly promised him a chance to join the first team for preseason next summer if the transfer goes through, a commitment that has convinced both him and his family to commit to the move.
The forward will turn 18 in January, making him immediately eligible to join Barça Atlètic. He is also likely to miss participation in the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt’s senior team, although some reports suggest he could be included in the squad.
With Barcelona actively seeking to strengthen their offensive options in the B team, Hamza Abdelkarim’s signing could soon become a reality, marking a major step in the club’s recruitment of emerging talents.
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