Barcelona move to reward Hamza Abdelkarim’s rapid rise

Barcelona are reportedly preparing a new-and-improved contract for Hamza Abdelkarim after the young forward made a strong impression during pre-season.

The 18-year-old Egyptian joined Barcelona on loan from Al Ahly in January. His performances were sufficient to convince the Catalan club to make the move permanent during the summer, and he was subsequently given an opportunity to train and play with Hansi Flick’s first-team group.

Abdelkarim has taken that opportunity impressively, scoring against Birmingham City, Basel and former club Al Ahly in Barcelona’s pre-season fixtures. His goalscoring form has now prompted the club to consider a substantial upgrade to the terms of his agreement.

Release clause could rise from €15m to €150m

According to Spanish outlet Jijantes, Barcelona are working on a contract renewal for Abdelkarim. The report states that the club has been convinced by the forward’s performances and is preparing an improvement to his deal.

“Barca to renew Hamza Abdelkarim’s contract. The Egyptian’s performance has convinced the club, which is preparing an improvement to his contract.”

Abdelkarim’s current release clause is reportedly set at €15 million. Barcelona are said to be working to raise that figure to €150 million, a move that would underline the club’s belief in the teenager and provide greater protection against interest from elsewhere.

The reported renewal has not yet been presented as formally completed, but it would represent another significant step in Abdelkarim’s rapid progression from an Al Ahly loanee to a highly regarded young option within Barcelona’s first-team setup.