Al-Ahly is requesting €8 million for their young star.
Hamza Abdelkarim, a 17-year-old standout from Egyptian club Al-Ahly, is regarded as one of the top talents in African football. Recently, he has attracted interest from numerous clubs, including Bayern Munich, Olympique Lyon, AC Milan, and most notably, Barcelona. Although Barça proposed an initial offer for a free transfer, Al-Ahly rejected it due to the absence of a sell-on clause.
According to Transfermarkt Egypt Data Scout Osama Rakha, Barcelona later submitted an enhanced offer comprising a free loan with an option to buy for €1 million, alongside €3 million in performance-related bonuses and a sell-on clause. The transfer expert Fabrizio Romano suggests that while Barcelona is the frontrunner for securing Abdelkarim, Al-Ahly remains firm in their stance, demanding an €8 million fee for their prized asset.
“Al-Ahly views him as a valuable gem and is unwilling to let him go easily,” Rakha explained. “This season, the club sold Wessam Abou Ali to Columbus Crew for €6.4 million, marking the second-largest transfer in league history. Malick Evouna holds the record sale, with Al-Ahly receiving €7.25 million from TJ Teda in 2016. Expectations are high that Abdelkarim could surpass this record.”
Barca target Hamza Abdelkarim: “The biggest talent in Egypt”
Is the requested fee justified? “Hamza is widely recognized as the top talent in Egypt,” Rakha remarked. He made history by being the fourth youngest Egyptian to debut in the CAF Champions League when he played for Al-Ahly against JS Kabylie last November. Although he hasn’t featured in the Egyptian Premier League this season, he made his debut last year against Petrojet, making him the fourth youngest player in Al-Ahly’s history and the youngest since Ramadan Sobhi in 2014.
Although he hasn’t scored for Al-Ahly’s first team yet, he has made a significant impact on Egypt’s youth teams. He scored three goals and provided an assist at the U17-AFCON, helping Egypt qualify for the U17 FIFA World Cup, where he again excelled, netting twice in four games. It was this remarkable performance that drew Barcelona’s attention. With 12 goals and six assists in 19 U17 matches, he has emerged as a standout performer among Egypt’s youth talents, forming a formidable partnership with Belal Ateya, who has trialed with Bundesliga’s Stuttgart.
Player Comparison
Al Ahly FC
El Ahly Cairo Youth
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What type of player is Abdelkarim? “Hamza embodies the characteristics of a modern striker,” Rakha noted. “He participates in build-up plays, often drifting into midfield or wide areas to create space for teammates. His standout skill lies in his prowess inside the penalty area; he excels in aerial challenges. If he reaches his full potential, he could very well become Egypt’s version of Erling Haaland,” Rakha concluded.
