Highly rated Al Ahly youngster Hamza Abdelkarim has expressed a strong desire to join Spanish giants Barcelona, with talks reportedly ongoing over a potential move.
The 17-year-old forward views a switch to the Catalan club as a dream step in his career, although negotiations have so far been complicated by Al Ahly’s financial demands. The Egyptian club are said to be holding up progress at the club-to-club level as they push for a higher transfer fee.
According to reports, Barcelona are working to bring the young striker into their Barça Atlètic setup, with the move expected to be completed in January, around the time Abdelkarim turns 18.
The Catalan side are believed to be leading the race for his signature, with the player keen on pulling on the famous Blaugrana shirt.
Egyptian media reports suggest Barcelona’s proposal involves a loan deal until the end of the season, with the club covering the remainder of Abdelkarim’s salary and inserting a purchase option worth four million euros.
The structure reportedly includes one million euros guaranteed, with the rest tied to performance-related incentives. Al Ahly, however, are said to be pushing for a higher fixed fee and stronger guarantees.
Former Egypt international goalkeeper Ahmed Shobeir shed light on the situation during his radio show, stating that “Al Ahly does not oppose Hamza Abdelkarim moving to Barça” but emphasised that the club expects appropriate financial compensation for a player they consider a valuable long-term asset.
Abdelkarim is regarded as a natural centre-forward, known for his finishing ability, physical strength and effectiveness when playing with his back to goal.
He caught attention at the recent U-17 World Cup in Qatar, scoring against Haiti and Venezuela, and also impressed at the Africa U-17 Cup. His Man-of-the-Match display against Angola played a key role in Egypt’s qualification for the World Cup, further underlining his growing reputation as one of the country’s brightest young talents.
