In a strategic move to bolster its reserve squad, FC Barcelona secured the signing of the 18-year-old Egyptian forward, Hamza Abdel Karim, on loan from Al Ahly during the past winter transfer window. This acquisition underscores the Catalan club’s significant bet on the young player’s technical abilities and future potential.
According to a report from the Catalan newspaper “Sport” this Thursday, the player’s quality in his initial training sessions has profoundly impressed the Barcelona hierarchy. This positive impression has prompted the sporting management to incorporate a special clause in the agreement, facilitating a permanent transfer even if Abdel Karim does not meet the stipulated appearance criteria. However, administrative registration complexities, which could be costly, might delay his official debut until the end of March at the earliest.
Despite this potential administrative hurdle, Barcelona is committed to finalizing the deal should the definitive decision be made—a decision about which there are reportedly no doubts within the management, given the player’s performances in training.
The Purchase Option
The loan contract includes a clause obligating Barcelona to activate the purchase option for Hamza Abdel Karim if he participates for more than 45 minutes in 6 official matches with the reserve team. The fixed fee for this permanent move is set at 1.5 million euros payable to Al Ahly, with an additional 3 million euros in variables tied to the player achieving future objectives.
The uniqueness of this clause lies in Barcelona’s unilateral right to trigger it, even if the player does not feature in those required matches. This provision accounts for the intricate registration procedures for foreign players in the Barcelona Atlètic category, casting some uncertainty over his ability to play this season. The club remains open to involving him in some significant youth category matches if the administrative processes are completed in time.
Barcelona’s Promise
Indicators from within the Catalan club suggest a clear commitment to the young Egyptian. Barcelona has reportedly assured Abdel Karim that their intention is not merely to secure his signing, even without fulfilling the match condition, but that a virtually guaranteed spot awaits him during the first team’s pre-season preparations next summer. The senior technical staff’s admiration for his capabilities, coupled with his teammates’ astonishment at his level in training, reinforces this promise.
“Sport” further added that Abdel Karim represents the most definitive signing secured by the reserve team’s sporting management in January, with a firm belief in his potential to become a major asset for Barcelona in the future.