Egyptian Wonderkid Chooses Barcelona: Hamza Abdel Karim’s Transfer Saga Unfolds
27 December 2025
Egyptian teen Hamza Abdel Karim remains determined to join La Liga champions.
The transfer of Egypt's young striker Hamza Abdel Karim to Barcelona now hinges on a decision by Al Ahly's president Mahmoud Al-Khatib, who is in Morocco covering AFCON 2025, according to Catalan newspaper Sport.
According to Sport, Barcelona has proposed a six-month loan deal with no fee, plus an option to buy for 1.25 million euros as a fixed amount, plus incentives and variables that could lift the total value to as much as 4 million euros, with Al Ahly keeping 10% of any future sale of the 17-year-old.
But the Red Sea club's management did not buy this offer, arguing that its financial value does not reflect the player's huge potential, especially if his talent blossoms at Barcelona. This pushed the Egyptian club to demand a higher fixed amount, along with easier-to-meet variables.
Barcelona's Latest Offer
Meanwhile, Barca's side believes the current bid is the last one, given the player has yet to cement himself with the first team of Al Ahly, and the Catalan club is not eager to take on further financial risk.
Moreover, Sport notes that Barcelona regards Hamza Abdel Karim as one of the world's rising attacking talents, after catching scouts' eyes, particularly during the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar.
He has reached a preliminary agreement with Barcelona on a three-and-a-half-year contract, awaiting final settlement between the two clubs.
According to Sport, the Egyptian youngster is turning down all other European offers, despite interest from Bayern Munich, Lyon, and Milan, preferring to wait for a decision on his move to La Liga's title holders.
The newspaper adds that relations between Al Ahly and Barcelona are good, which fuels optimism in the Spanish club's management about reaching a final deal soon, especially given the pressure the player himself is putting.
Punchline 1: If this deal falls through, Barca might need a magician to conjure up the funds.
Punchline 2: Al Ahly's transfer policy is so tight that even memes require a contract.
