Barcelona Sign Egyptian Striker Hamza Abdelkarim Amid Ongoing Striker Search Before Moves For Osimhen And Álvarez

Barcelona Sign Egyptian Striker Hamza Abdelkarim Amid Ongoing Striker Search Before Moves for Osimhen and Álvarez FC Barcelona have secured the signing of Egyptian teenage striker Hamza Abdelkarim, adding the highly rated forward to their ranks as the club continues to reshape its attacking options ahead of potential moves for bigger-name targets such as Victor Osimhen and Julián Álvarez. The 18-year-old joins Barcelona after the club activated a purchase option following his initial loan spell from Egyptian side Al Ahly. The deal is understood to be worth around €1.5 million plus add-ons, with the striker expected to continue his development within Barça Atlètic while also being monitored for possible first-team integration. Abdelkarim initially arrived in Spain on loan during the winter transfer window, with Barcelona inserting an option to buy after being impressed by his performances and potential. Club officials reportedly view him as a long-term project rather than an immediate replacement in the senior squad. The move comes as Barcelona continue to evaluate their attacking depth, with the club widely linked to established strikers in the transfer market. Reports suggest that while Victor Osimhen has been offered to the Catalan side through intermediaries, he is not currently a priority target for the club. Instead, Barcelona are understood to be focusing on a potential move for Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez, who is seen internally as a preferred option to strengthen the No. 9 role. Despite that, the signing of Abdelkarim is viewed as part of a broader recruitment strategy aimed at securing young, high-potential talent early, particularly as Barcelona continue to balance financial constraints with squad rebuilding efforts. The Egyptian forward is expected to feature primarily for the club’s reserve side, Barça Atlètic, while also being included in first-team training sessions to assess his progress.

Abdelkarim, who has represented Egypt at youth level and gained attention for his performances in international youth competitions, is regarded as one of the most promising young strikers emerging from Africa. His development will be closely tracked by Barcelona’s coaching staff throughout the upcoming season. The signing also reflects Barcelona’s ongoing dual-track approach in the transfer market—investing in emerging talent while simultaneously pursuing elite forwards capable of making an immediate impact in European competition. As the summer transfer window approaches, the club’s striker situation remains a major talking point, with fans and analysts awaiting clarity on whether Barcelona will ultimately push forward with a marquee signing or continue prioritising youth development projects alongside targeted senior reinforcements.