Barcelona still undecided on activating 3m buy clause for teenage prodigy despite rumours | Barca Universal

Hamza Abdelkarim, an 18-year-old FC Barcelona youth forward, was named in Egypt’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad. He joined Barcelona in the winter on loan from Al-Ahly, with an option to make the move permanent for €3 million. Although he was intended to strengthen Barça Atlètic, he has only played for Barcelona’s Juvenil A (U-19) team and has excelled there. Reports indicate Barcelona may activate the buy option and could involve him in first-team pre-season. Barcelona has not yet decided, and the final call is expected from youth football director José Ramón Alexanko. Egypt’s national team coach Hossam Hassan selected him despite limited elite professional experience, signaling high potential.

"The teenager arrived at the club in the winter window, signing on loan from Al-Ahly with an option to make the transfer permanent for €3 million. Even though he was signed with a view to strengthening Barça Atletic, Hamza has only played for the club's Juvenil A (U-19) team and excelled. Given his performances at the youth level, it has been reported that Barcelona have decided to activate the €3 million buy option and even potentially involve him in the first-team pre-season in the summer."

"However, according to the latest update from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have still not made a decision on whether Abdelkarim will be signed permanently. The purchase option is worth €3 million, rising to €5 million at most through variables. And even though the Catalans are still undecided, sources within the club admit that it is more than possible that the final answer will be yes. "Because of his qualities, he has a promising future ahead of him," they say at the Ciutat Esportiva."

"The announcement that Hamza Abdelkarim is in the Egypt squad list for the World Cup has caused a major impact in his country. There was already a lot of excitement surrounding the youngster in the African nation, even more so after his move to Barcelona in the winter. The bold decision made by national team coach Hossam Hassan, calling up the highly promising Barça striker, who has still not yet played in professional elite football, is another strong indicator of his unlimited potential."

Read at Barca Universal