Overview
- Barcelona decided Friday to prepare a contract upgrade that would raise Hamza Abdelkarim’s release clause from €15 million to €150 million and include a pay rise.
- The 18-year-old became Barcelona’s top scorer in pre-season by netting four goals in three friendly appearances, including a goal in the Joan Gamper Trophy against his former club Al Ahly that he did not celebrate.
- The club converted his loan into a permanent deal this summer, signing him to a contract through 2029 and paying Al Ahly €1.5 million plus up to €5 million in goal-related add-ons.
- Coach Hansi Flick and sporting staff have praised Abdelkarim’s technical traits and scoring instincts, but he entered Barcelona with roughly 360 senior minutes for Al Ahly and limited top-level experience.
- Raising the clause is primarily a defensive valuation step to deter bidders while Barcelona weighs registering him with the first team or recruiting an experienced No. 9, a choice that will determine his playing time and wage path.