FC Barcelona have triggered Hamza Abdelkarim’s buy option to sign the youngster permanently according to transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano and a multiple outlets.
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FC Barcelona have triggered Hamza Abdelkarim’s buy option in order to sign the youngster permanently according to transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano and multiple outlets.
“Barcelona have activated the buy option clause to sign Egyptian talent Hamza Abdelkarim from Al Ahly on permanent deal,” the Italian tweeted on X.
“Fee: €1.5m ($1.73 million) plus add-ons. [He’s] seen as interesting talent for the future after 6 months at the club,” Romano added.
Abdelkarim came through the Al-Ahly academy and joined Barça’s B team known as Barça Atletic at the turn of 2026.
Though he didn’t make any appearances for Juliano Belletti’s reserve outfit, the 18-year-old played with the Juvenil U-18s and scored on his March 8 debut against Huesca in a 2-2 draw.
Whenever catching glimpses of him in action, and especially through highlights online, Culers have been impressed by what they’ve seen of Abdelkarim thus far.
The Egyptian already capped by his country at U-17 level could prove to be the striker that the Catalans need long-term, at a time that a much more experienced and established Julian Alvarez is being chased.
There’s a fair bit of road ahead of him of course, but possibly being called up to preseason training by Hansi Flick, as a selected group of Barça Atletic stars often are, could see him being given a chance to show the German what he’s got.
Abedelkarim in, Rashford out at FC Barcelona
The news comes on the same day that Barça reportedly decided not to trigger Marcus Rashford’s buy option.
That was worth $35 million (€30 million), and agreed when the Catalans took Rashford on loan for the 2025/2026 season.
Rashford provided 14 goals and 14 assists as Barça retained the La Liga title under Flick, but bringing in Anthony Gordon was the beginning of the end for the Mancunian considering additional positional rivalry from Raphinha.
A fortnight after the Blaugrana bought Gordon for $80.8 million (€70 million) plus add-ons, Rashford looks set to return to Manchester United after the World Cup.
At this point, however, it can’t be ruled out that Barça try to take the 28-year-old on loan for another season. His buy option is set to expire on June 15 and the original temporary arrangement 15 days later.