Barça closing in on 'new Salah' as Hamza Abdelkarim deal edges forward
Barcelona's hunt for Egyptian wonderkid Hamza Abdelkarim nears completion with a clever loan deal to Barça Atlètic that includes a bargain purchase option.
Barcelona are on the verge of landing one of Egypt’s brightest young talents, with 18-year-old forward Hamza Abdelkarim set to join the Catalan giants in a move that’s got the football world buzzing.
Egypt’s rising star
The Al Ahly SC striker, already dubbed ‘the new Salah’ in his homeland, has caught the attention of Barcelona’s talent spotters after impressive performances in the U-17 World Cup and African Cup of Nations. Standing at 1.82m tall, the youngster only made his senior debut for Al Ahly in January 2025, but has already shown enough promise to attract interest from European heavyweights.
According to Egyptian journalist Sayed Nabawy, a clever bit of business is underway that will see Abdelkarim first extend his contract with Al Ahly before making the move to Barcelona – a proper stroke of genius from all parties involved.
Loan with an eye to the future
The initial arrangement will see Abdelkarim join Barça Atlètic – Barcelona’s B team currently competing in Segunda Federación under the management of former Barça defender Juliano Belletti. The young Egyptian is set to replace Mamadou Mbacke, who’s finalizing his transfer to MLS side St. Louis City.
What makes this deal particularly tasty for Barcelona is the purchase option they’ve negotiated:
- €1.5 million fixed fee
- Additional €5 million in variables
- Potential bargain if Abdelkarim lives up to his ‘new Salah’ billing
Smart business all round
By extending Abdelkarim’s contract before the loan, Al Ahly have protected themselves in case Barcelona don’t trigger their purchase option. It’s a bit of bread and honey from the Egyptian club, ensuring they maintain control of their asset regardless of how the Spanish adventure unfolds.
Barcelona have also played a blinder by moving quickly to secure the deal ahead of several European giants. Bayern Munich, Olympique Lyon, and AC Milan were all reportedly interested in the 2008-born talent, but it’s the Catalan club who appear to have won the race.
If the young Egyptian can develop anywhere close to the trajectory of his compatriot Mo Salah, this could prove to be one of the shrewdest bits of business Barça have done in donkey’s years.