Barcelona signs a fresh teen talent duo to complement Hamza Abdul Karim
23 January 2026
Barcelona continues to look at present and future together, seizing opportunities in the winter transfer window to strengthen the club's reserve squad, with a clear goal of developing players capable of reaching the first team in the not-too-distant future.
Following last week’s signing of striker Joaquín Delgado (23) from Oviedo's reserve squad on loan with an option to buy, who scored in his first appearance against Andratx, the Catalan club has two more deals in the pipeline.
The first deal is the loan of Egyptian striker Hamza Abdul Karim (18) from Al Ahly, an international player for Egypt's under-17 team, with an option to buy next summer.
The second deal is the addition of English prospect Ajay Tavarez (16), Norwich City's winger and England under-17 international, with close sources confirming he will move to Barcelona before the winter window closes.
Although British, Tavarez holds an European passport, allowing him to join La Masia directly and train with the reserves without waiting to reach adulthood.
He is a strong left winger, plays with his right foot on the opposite flank, and can also play as a striker. Despite his young age, his developed build has him thriving against two or three years older opponents, drawing attention in England and beyond.
Barcelona moved quickly to seal the deal, adding another talent to its long-term project, as the club builds a strong youth core to support the first team in coming years—youth saves money, and yes, it even comes with coffee breaks.
