Hamza Abdelkarim is already in Barcelona. The Egyptian forward arrived this weekend to complete his medical checks, the final step before Barça Atlètic make his signing official.
The operation has been moving quietly since early December, when the club identified the 18-year-old as a reinforcement for Juliano Belletti’s side. However, it took longer than expected. Administrative hurdles slowed everything down, but thankfully, those issues were cleared in the last few days, allowing the player to travel.
Before leaving Egypt, Abdelkarim extended his contract with Al-Ahly until 2028. The renewal was a non-negotiable condition for his parent club. They wanted to protect themselves if FC Barcelona decide not to exercise the purchase option at the end of the loan, allowing the player to return to Al-Ahly and not leave for free. Images of Abdelkarim re-signing circulated earlier this week, confirming that part of the deal was finally done.
Barça will not pay a loan fee. The agreement includes an option to buy set at around three million euros, with variables that could push the total closer to five. The striker’s medical was scheduled for Saturday, and once completed, the club is expected to announce the move.
Al-Ahly president Walid Salah had already spoken openly about the transfer. “Yes, Hamza Abdelkarim is going to Barcelona. I wish him great success so that he can continue his career there and establish himself at Barça and not return to Egypt,” he said.
In Egypt, Abdelkarim is considered one of the standout talents of his generation. The media spotlight made Al-Ahly less flexible than usual, but the player’s insistence on making the jump to Europe played a key role in unlocking the deal.
At Barça Atlètic, expectations are high, but there’s also patience. The idea is for Abdelkarim to contribute immediately in the second half of the season, with promotion still in sight. If his adaptation goes smoothly, the club could have him join the first team’s preseason next summer. He would also become the first Egyptian player to wear the blaugrana shirt.
Abdelkarim’s arrival is part of a busy winter window for the reserves. Uruguayan center-back Patricio Pacífico has also been seen in Barcelona to finalize a loan from Defensor Sporting, with an option to buy set at 1.8 million euros plus variables that could become mandatory depending on appearances. Dutch defender Juwansley Onstein is expected to follow, after already passing his medical earlier this week.
