Barcelona closing in on Hamza Abdelkarim move from Al Ahly

Barcelona are close to wrapping up a deal for Al Ahly’s young striker Hamza Abdelkarim after talks intensified in recent hours, helped by the player’s clear desire to wear the Blaugrana shirt and growing agreement between all parties.

The plan is to complete an initial loan before the end of the year, with an option to buy and an immediate move to Barcelona Atlètic at the start of January.

Scouts at Barcelona followed Abdelkarim closely during the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar, where his finishing, movement and goal threat convinced them he fits the club’s attacking style. The club see him as a classic centre forward who can play with his back to goal, link up smoothly with teammates and unleash a powerful shot that suits their possession game.

Al Ahly are ready to approve a loan exit but are pushing for a strong financial package, including an acceptable initial fee and a future percentage of any permanent transfer, potentially in June. They also want fixed and variable bonuses tied to his progression to the first team, similar to the structure Barcelona used when signing Pedri from Las Palmas, and talks are ongoing to align all financial details.