FC Barcelona Sign Egyptian Talent Hamza Abdelkarim to Professional Contract Until 2030

From Al Ahly to the Camp Nou: A Rapid Ascent

Born in Cairo on January 1, 2008, Abdelkarim made history as the first Egyptian player to sign with Barcelona. Following standout performances at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup and a brief spell with Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly, Barcelona secured the young prospect on loan with an option to buy.

He arrived at Barcelona Atlètic on February 1. While his initial stint with the reserve side fell just short of achieving promotion, his performances convinced club leadership to trigger a €1.5 million purchase option. Head coach Hansi Flick later endorsed the move, noting Abdelkarim’s predatory instinct inside the penalty area. During a preseason tour highlight in Birmingham, Flick remarked, “If there is an opportunity, you have to be there, and he was there,” following Abdelkarim’s debut brace.

First-Team Breakthrough Under Flick

Following a summer campaign that included representing Egypt’s senior national team at the World Cup in June, Abdelkarim returned to pre-season training with Barcelona’s senior squad. He finished the summer slate as the first team’s top goalscorer with four goals.

That form earned him a brief official debut in late August, where he logged four minutes against Rayo Vallecano at the Camp Nou wearing the number 29 shirt. Though primarily assigned to the youth and reserve setup—where he teams up with young Belgian forward Jesse Bisiwu—Abdelkarim has earned inclusion in all five of Flick’s matchday squads to open the competitive calendar.

Contract Details and Immediate Outlook

The new agreement secures Abdelkarim’s developmental pathway through the end of the decade, reflecting the club’s long-term faith in his ceiling. He will ink the paperwork alongside club president Joan Laporta, locking in a professional framework designed to manage his transition between the reserve squad and Flick’s senior setup.

Barcelona return to competitive action following the international break as the coaching staff looks to integrate the teenager into upcoming domestic fixtures.