Spanish giants Barcelona have confirmed the permanent signing of promising Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim after activating the purchase option included in his loan agreement. Abdelkarim, who joined the Catalan club on loan from Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly during the January transfer window, impressed club officials with his performances for Barcelona's Juvenil A side during the second half of the season. The 18-year-old striker found the net six times in 11 appearances, convincing the club to secure his long-term future.
Barcelona announced on Tuesday that the youngster has signed a contract that will keep him at the club until 2029. While the Spanish side did not reveal the financial details of the deal, reports in the Spanish media indicate that the transfer was completed for €1.5 million ($1.7 million), with additional performance-related bonuses included in the agreement.
Abdelkarim is currently representing Egypt at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he has featured in both of the team's matches against Belgium and New Zealand. His growing influence at both club and international levels has further highlighted his potential as one of Egypt's emerging football talents.
Barcelona said the striker had officially become a permanent member of the club after they exercised their option to buy following a successful loan spell.
