Hamza Abdelkarim in line for Barcelona contract upgrade after impressive pre-season

Barcelona are preparing a major revision of Hamza Abdelkarim’s contract after the Egyptian teenager impressed for the club’s youth team and during pre-season with the senior side.

The 18-year-old forward is currently contracted to Barcelona until 2029, but the Catalan club are planning to increase both his salary and the release clause in his agreement as they seek to underline his growing importance.

According to Catalan newspaper Sport, Barcelona want to raise Abdelkarim’s release clause from €15m to €150m. The tenfold increase would be designed to protect one of the club’s most promising emerging talents from potential interest elsewhere.

The proposed salary increase is expected to accompany the change to the clause, giving Abdelkarim a contract which more accurately reflects Barcelona’s belief that he can become an important player for the first team in the present and the future.

Abdelkarim joined Barcelona last season from Egyptian club Al Ahly on loan. Barcelona decided to activate the option to sign him permanently during the summer, with the player subsequently agreeing a deal which runs until 2029.

Al Ahly received a guaranteed €1.5m from the transfer, with a further €5m available through performance-related bonuses linked to the player’s achievements.

The striker returned to Barcelona after representing Egypt at the World Cup held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and went straight into first-team training.

His time in England during pre-season proved particularly significant. Abdelkarim scored twice in his first appearance against Birmingham City, then continued to attract attention with another strong display against Basel and in the Joan Gamper Trophy.

He scored in the Joan Gamper Trophy but chose not to celebrate out of respect for his former club. Despite that gesture, the goal reinforced his reputation as a natural finisher, and he ended the preparation period as Barcelona’s leading scorer.

That form has placed him in contention to make his competitive debut for Barcelona in La Liga when they face Elche on Sunday. Abdelkarim is expected to be included in the squad and could be given some playing time after Hansi Flick used him in the starting line-up for several pre-season matches.

A starting place in the opening league fixture would be difficult to secure, but his inclusion in the matchday squad appears likely. His physical qualities and ability to make an impact in attack could make him an option for Flick from the bench at any stage of the game.

Despite his age, Abdelkarim has already demonstrated notable strength and an impressive ability to finish chances with his first touch, particularly with his left foot. Those attributes have encouraged the belief that he could develop into a long-term centre-forward for Barcelona.

The Egypt international also appears to have an important opportunity within the senior squad. Barcelona currently do not have a conventional number nine following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, leaving greater room for Abdelkarim to establish himself and continue his development alongside the club’s first-team stars.

The planned contract changes represent a significant show of confidence from Barcelona. Increasing the release clause to €150m would signal that the club see Abdelkarim not merely as a promising youth player, but as an asset they want to retain and develop at Camp Nou.

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