Barcelona agree new contract with Hamza Abdelkarim until 2030

Barcelona have agreed a contract extension with 18-year-old Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim, keeping him at the club until 2030.

The new deal will significantly increase the release clause in Abdelkarim’s contract. Barcelona have not disclosed the figure, but Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has estimated it at 150m euros.

Abdelkarim originally joined Barcelona on a contract running until 2029, with a release clause of 15m euros. However, his development on and off the pitch prompted the club to open negotiations over improved terms.

The contract signing ceremony will take place next Tuesday, 15, at 17:00 local time in president Joan Laporta’s office. Abdelkarim will then speak to the media.

It is unusual for Barcelona players to face the media after renewing their contracts. The club have made an exception in this case to give Abdelkarim the opportunity to address journalists, particularly because he was not presented to the media when he joined Barcelona.

Abdelkarim began his first matches with the youth team under coach Pol Planas. Despite not having played any minutes for Barca Atletic, he was called up by Egypt for the World Cup.

The Egyptian forward featured in the closing stages of Egypt’s matches before joining Barcelona’s first-team preparations for the new season without taking time off for a holiday.

He finished pre-season as Barcelona’s leading scorer, and head coach Hansi Flick subsequently selected him for the opening matches of the campaign.

Abdelkarim made his first-team appearance in the 9-0 win over Rayo Vallecano at Spotify Camp Nou, playing the final nine minutes.