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Hamza Abdelkarim

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Hamza Abdelkarim
Abdelkarim with Egypt in 2026
Personal information
Full name Hamza Mohamed Abdelkarim Elsayed Selim[1][2]
Date of birth (2008-01-01) 1 January 2008 (age 18)[2]
Place of birth Cairo, Egypt
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Position Striker
Team information
Current team
 Barcelona
Number 29[1][3]
Youth career
2020–2026 Al Ahly
2026 → Barcelona (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2025–2026 Al Ahly 1 (0)
2026– Barcelona B 0 (0)
2026– Barcelona 1 (0)
International career‡
2024–2025 Egypt U17 19 (12)
2025 Egypt U20 2 (0)
2026– Egypt 6 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 31 August 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 7 July 2026

Hamza Mohamed Abdelkarim Elsayed Selim[a] is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Barcelona[1][3] and the Egypt national team.[1]

Club career

[edit]

Al Ahly

[edit]

Abdelkarim joined the academy of Al Ahly in 2020, after passing trials with the club. He was called up to the senior squad for the first time in January 2025, ahead of an Egyptian Premier League match against Pharco.[4] Despite not making his debut in the game, the decision to call him up at such a young age drew praise from Egypt youth national team coach Tamer Hassan, who tipped Abdelkarim to become a key player for Al Ahly.[5] The following month, on 6 February 2025, Abdelkarim made his professional debut for the club, coming on as a late substitute for Emam Ashour in a 2–1 win against Petrojet.[6] In doing so, he became the youngest player to represent the club in the 21st century, surpassing Ramadan Sobhi's record by nine days.[7] The following week, it was reported that Dutch club Feyenoord of the Eredivisie were interested in taking Abdelkarim on trial.[8] In January 2026, he extended his contract with Al Ahly until 2028.[9]

Barcelona

[edit]

On 1 February 2026, Abdelkarim joined La Liga side Barcelona on loan until the end of the 2025–26 season, with an option to buy.[10] Administrative issues meant he couldn't play until 8 March, but on his debut with the U-19 side, he scored a goal away at Huesca.[11] Later that year, amid interest from Sporting CP and Bologna, on 10 June, Barcelona made Abdelkarim's transfer from Al Ahly permanent after exercising their purchase option in a deal worth an initial €1.5 million, plus performance-related bonuses.[12][13]

On 24 July 2026, Abdelkarim made his first-team debut for Barcelona in a pre-season friendly against CE Europa, which Barcelona won 4–1. He then went on to start in the next friendly against Birmingham City a week later, scoring both goals in a 2–2 draw before Barcelona lost 3–2 in the penalty shootout.[14] Abdelkarim played in Barcelona's pre-season matchups against Nottingham Forest, Udinese, Basel, and Al Ahly, scoring four goals in total throughout the summer and earning strong praise from manager Hansi Flick.[15][16]

Following his pre-season performance, Flick promoted Abdelkarim to Barcelona's first-team squad for the 2026–27 La Liga season, assigning him the number 29 jersey[17], although he was registered with the Barcelona B team with the number 19 jersey.[18]

Hamza was named as a substitute on the bench for Barcelona's opening match in 2026–27 La Liga against Elche on 23 August 2026.[19] On 31 August, he made his senior debut as a substitute in a 5–2 victory over Rayo Vallecano.[20]

On 9 September 2026, Hamza received his first UEFA Champions League call-up and was named on the substitutes' bench during Barcelona's 5–1 opening stage victory against Feyenoord in 2026–27 UEFA Champions League.[21] Two days later, Barcelona announced that it had reached an agreement with Abdelkarim on a contract that would keep him at the club until 30 June 2030. The agreement was formally signed on 15 September at the offices of Barcelona president Joan Laporta.[22] According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the new contract includes a €150 million release clause, increased from the €15 million clause in his previous agreement.[23]

International career

[edit]

Abdelkarim represented Egypt at the 2024 UNAF U17 Tournaments held in Algeria and Morocco, scoring three goals in both tournaments to help his nation win both titles.[24] He was called up again for the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations, but was unable to help Egypt progress beyond the group stage, despite scoring twice. His Man of the Match performance against Angola, including scoring once in Egypt's 2–1 victory, earned his nation a place at the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup.[25] On 20 May 2026, Abdelkarim was named in Egypt's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[26] He made his Egypt national team debut on 28 May, as an 86th-minute substitute in a 1–0 friendly win against Russia.[27] On 15 June, he made his World Cup debut as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Belgium, becoming the youngest Egyptian player to feature at a World Cup, aged 18 years and 165 days.[28]

Personal life

[edit]

Abdelkarim attended the International School of Kuala Lumpur and the American International School in Egypt.[29] He is fluent in Egyptian Arabic and English, and was learning Spanish as of 2026.[13]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 31 August 2026[30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[b] League cup[c] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Al Ahly 2024–25 Egyptian Premier League 10————10
2025–26 Egyptian Premier League 0010601[d]00080
Total 101060100090
Barcelona 2026–27 La Liga 100000000010
Career total 2010601000100
  1. ↑ (Arabic: حمزة محمد عبد الكريم; born 1 January 2008)
  2. ↑ Includes Egypt Cup
  3. ↑ Includes Egyptian League Cup
  4. ↑ Appearance in CAF Champions League

Honours

[edit]

Al Ahly

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 "Hamza Abdelkarim". La Liga. 30 August 2026. Retrieved 30 August 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. 1 2 "FIFA World Cup 2026™ – Squad List: Egypt (EGY)" (PDF). FIFA. 19 July 2026. p. 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Hamza Abdelkarim". FC Barcelona. 30 August 2026. Retrieved 30 August 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "بعد ظهوره للمرة الأولى في قائمة الأهلي.. من هو حمزة عبدالكريم؟" [After his first appearance on Al-Ahly's roster... Who is Hamza Abdelkarim]. egypttelegraph.com (in Arabic). 21 January 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  5. ↑ "مدرب منتخب الشباب يشيد بقرار انضمام حمزة عبدالكريم لقائمة الأهلى أمام فاركو" [The youth team coach praises the decision to include Hamza Abdelkarim in Al-Ahly's squad against Pharco]. elcaptain.dostor.org (in Arabic). 21 January 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  6. ↑ "دخل بديلًا لإمام عاشور.. من هو حمزة عبد الكريم ناشئ الأهلي الجديد؟" [He replaced Emam Ashour.. Who is Hamza Abdelkarim, Al-Ahly's new junior]. egypttelegraph.com (in Arabic). 6 February 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  7. ↑ "حمزة عبدالكريم أصغر لاعب يشارك مع الأهلي" [Hamza Abdelkarim is the youngest player to play for Al-Ahly]. almasryalyoum.com (in Arabic). 6 February 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  8. ↑ "فاينورد الهولندي يطلب ضم حمزة عبدالكريم.. والأهلي يدرس القرار" [Dutch club Feyenoord requests to sign Hamza Abdelkarim, and Al-Ahly is studying the decision]. sport.elfagr.org (in Arabic). 10 February 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  9. ↑ "Hamza Abdel Karim Extends Contract with Al Ahly Before Moving to Barcelona". ysscores.com. 30 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Hamza Abdelkarim joins Barça Atlètic". FC Barcelona. 1 February 2026.
  11. ↑ "Video: Hamza AbdelKarim scores first Barcelona youth goal on debut against Huesca". Pan-Africa Football. 8 March 2026.
  12. ↑ Sanderson, Tom (10 June 2026). "FC Barcelona Activates Release Clause And Completes Permanent Transfer". Forbes. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Los secretos del fichaje de Hamza Abdelkarim" (in Spanish). 12 June 2026.
  14. ↑ "Birmingham city defeats fc barcelona on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw in an international friendly". beIN SPORTS. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
  15. ↑ "Ahead of the Al-Ahly match: a message from Barcelona regarding Hamza Abdelkarim". Goal.com. 17 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "A narrow win, Hamza's brilliance and the Raphinha surprise: How the Spanish press saw the Al Ahly and Barcelona match". Goal.com. 20 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Decisive decision: Barcelona officially reward Hamza Abdelkarim". Goal.com. 25 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Los dorsales del Barça Atlètic para la temporada 2026/27". FC Barcelona Atlètic. 30 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Egyptian Forward Hamza Abdelkarim Included in Barcelona Squad for Elche Clash". Koora Break. 23 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "Hamza Abdelkarim makes competitive debut for FC Barcelona". FC Barcelona. 31 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "What about Hamza Abdelkarim? Flick announces squad to open the Champions League campaign". Goal.com. 2026-09-09. Retrieved 2026-09-10.
  22. ↑ "Agreement for new contract for Hamza Abdelkarim". FC Barcelona. 11 September 2026. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  23. ↑ Romano, Fabrizio. "Hamza Abdelkarim signs new deal at Barcelona until June 2030 with a new release clause". X. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  24. ↑ "حمزه عبدالكريم يصعد ضمن صفوف نادي الأهلي بعد تلاقيه رجال المباراة مرتين متتاليتين في منتخب مصر للناشئين" [Hamza Abdelkarim is promoted to the Al Ahly squad after facing the men of the match twice in a row in the Egyptian youth national team]. trend.elwatanplus.com (in Arabic). 13 February 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  25. ↑ "حمزة عبدالكريم يحصد جائزة أفضل لاعب في مباراة مصر وأنجولا" [Hamza Abdelkarim wins the best player award in the Egypt-Angola match]. sport.elwatannews.com (in Arabic). 12 April 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  26. ↑ "حسام حسن يعلن قائمة المنتخب الوطني المبدئية استعداداً لكأس العالم" [Hossam Hassan announces the preliminary squad for the national team in preparation for the World Cup] (in Arabic). Egyptian Football Association. 20 May 2026. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  27. ↑ Rzouki, Mina (9 June 2026). "World Cup 2026: Five young Arab talents who could light up the tournament". The National News.
  28. ↑ "FIFA World Cup 2026 stats: June 15 day of WC draws, Spain's 734, South America 0/4". ESPN. 15 June 2026.
  29. ↑ "No Little mistake - rise of youngster a big lesson for FAM". 4 June 2026.
  30. ↑ Hamza Abdelkarim at Soccerway
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