The latest Barcelona transfer news is an exciting one for the club's fans, as Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the Blaugrana are close to completing the signing of Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim who's been dubbed "the new Salah" in Egypt. After losing talented youngster Dro Fernandez to PSG, signing a talented prodigy like Hamza Abdelkarim would undoubtedly be welcome news for Barcelona fans and Hansi Flick.
Barcelona potential new signing Hamza Abdelkarim - His Career So Far
Abdelkarim’s rise has been rapid and eye-catching. He joined the Al Ahly academy in 2020 after impressing during trials and quickly established himself as one of the club’s standout young talents. His progress was rewarded in January 2025 when he received his first senior-team call-up ahead of an Egyptian Premier League match against Pharco. Although he did not feature in the game, the decision to include him at such a young age drew praise from Egypt’s youth team coach Tamer Hassan, who tipped him to become an important player for Al Ahly in the future.
Just weeks later, Abdelkarim made history. On 6 February 2025, he made his professional debut, coming on as a late substitute for Emam Ashour in a 2–1 victory over Petrojet. That appearance saw him become Al Ahly’s youngest player of the 21st century, breaking Ramadan Sobhi’s long-standing record by just nine days. His breakthrough did not go unnoticed, with reports soon linking him to interest from Dutch club Feyenoord, who were keen to take him on trial.
On the international stage, Abdelkarim has also made his mark with Egypt’s youth teams. He starred at the UNAF U-17 Tournament in 2024, held in Algeria and Morocco, scoring three goals in each tournament to help Egypt lift both titles. In 2025, he featured at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring twice despite Egypt exiting at the group stage. His standout Man-of-the-Match display against Angola, including a crucial goal in a 2–1 win, secured Egypt qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, underlining his growing reputation as one of the country’s brightest young prospects.
When will Hamza Abdelkarim join Barcelona?
Although a deal is close between Al Ahly Barcelona for Hamza Abdelkarim, Romano has also mentioned that terms and fee are still being discussed between clubs. Talks are expected to continue this week and Hamza Abdelkarim will soon officially be announced as a Barcelona player if negotiations continue as expected.
More on this Transfer Window:
