Barcelona protect Hamza Abdelkarim with €150m release clause

Hamza Abdelkarim has signed an improved contract with Barcelona that includes a €150m release clause, after the 18-year-old’s breakthrough year with Egypt and the Catalan club.

The new agreement runs until 2030 and represents a significant rise from the €15m clause previously included in the Egyptian forward’s contract. The increase amounts to 900%, underlining how quickly Abdelkarim’s standing has grown.

According to Sport, the teenager has also received a substantial salary increase. Negotiations between the player and Barcelona’s directors were completed after only two meetings, as the club moved to protect one of its most highly regarded young players from interest among several major clubs during the summer.

Abdelkarim’s profile rose sharply during an exceptional 2026. He became the youngest Egyptian player to appear at a World Cup and then made his first appearances for Barcelona’s senior team.

Those achievements have strengthened his reputation as one of the leading prospects in Egyptian football. He is already being viewed as a potential successor to Mohamed Salah in the Pharaohs’ attack.

The scale of Barcelona’s new release clause is clear when compared with valuations placed on established players elsewhere. The CIES Football Observatory estimates Anthony Gordon’s value at €90m, while Karim Adeyemi is valued at €40m by Transfermarkt.

Abdelkarim’s €150m clause is therefore higher than the combined figures given for Gordon and Adeyemi, despite the Egyptian being only 18 years old.

Barcelona’s decision sends a clear signal about the role it expects Abdelkarim to play in the club’s plans over the coming years. His historic progress with Egypt, introduction to the first team and upgraded contract all reflect the confidence placed in him.

He now occupies an unusually prominent position for a player of his age and could soon become one of the most recognisable new figures in Egyptian football.