Barcelona hand Hamza Abdelkarim first-team place after impressive summer

Barcelona have officially registered Egypt Under-? No, avoid unsupported. Barcelona have officially registered 18-year-old Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim with their first-team squad after his impressive performances during pre-season.

Abdelkarim scored four goals in the friendly matches he played for the Catalan club this summer, performances which persuaded manager Hansi Flick to include him in Barcelona’s senior squad for the current season.

His registration is now listed on the official La Liga website, where he has been assigned squad number 29. The decision represents a rapid rise for the teenager, who only joined Barcelona from Egyptian club Al Ahly in January.

Abdelkarim initially played for Barcelona’s youth teams after completing the move. Just six months later, he has been registered with the first team following a pre-season campaign that made a strong impression on Flick and the club’s coaching staff.

The forward was named among Barcelona’s substitutes for their opening La Liga match on Sunday. He watched from the bench as Barcelona began their campaign with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Elche.

Although he did not make his senior debut in that match, his inclusion in the squad marked another significant step since his arrival in Spain. His first-team registration means he is now officially part of Barcelona’s senior group for the season.

Abdelkarim’s progress has also come after he featured for Egypt at the 2026 World Cup. He was part of the Pharaohs’ squad as they reached the last 16, where their campaign ended with defeat by Argentina.

The four goals scored during Barcelona’s pre-season fixtures proved decisive in accelerating his move from the club’s youth structure into the first team. They also gave Flick a reason to retain the young striker in his senior plans rather than leave him competing solely with the youth sides.

Barcelona’s decision to register Abdelkarim and give him the number 29 shirt underlines how quickly his status has changed since he moved from Al Ahly. Having joined in January, the 18-year-old is now officially listed among the players available to the first team as Barcelona defend their position at the top level of Spanish football.

His next opportunity to appear will depend on Flick’s selection, but the teenager has already been rewarded for a productive preparation period with a place in the squad and official registration in La Liga.