Barcelona receive crucial breakthrough over January signing’s work permit | OneFootball

During the January transfer window, FC Barcelona secured one of Africa’s most exciting young prospects, bringing in Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim on loan. 

The move did not grab global headlines at the time, but internally, there is a strong belief in his potential.

Shortly after arriving in Spain, the young striker trained for a few days at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. 

However, his stay was brief. Due to administrative requirements linked to his work permit, he had to return to Egypt to speed up the legal process.

Why did he return?

According to SPORT, the return was purely procedural, and during this time, Abdelkarim has not been idle. 

He has continued training in his homeland, working closely with the youth setup at the Egyptian Football Association facilities. 

Importantly, Barcelona’s coaching staff provided him with a personalised physical plan to ensure he maintains fitness levels and adapts to the club’s tactical demands even from a distance.

Hamza Abdelkarim joined Barcelona in January. (Photo courtesy: FC Barcelona official website)

Now, there has been a significant development. On Wednesday, the official website of the African country’s football association issued a statement confirming Barcelona’s request for his immediate return. 

“Barcelona has informed the EFA that the player must return in the next few hours as the paperwork for his stay and work permit is almost complete, and this requires his presence to finalise the paperwork himself and attend training sessions.”

This update suggests that the bureaucratic delay is close to being resolved. 

Initially, estimates indicated the process could take between two to three months. 

However, progress has been quicker than expected, and Abdelkarim could receive the final green light within days.

It must be noted that the young forward joined from Al Ahly on a loan deal that includes an option to buy. 

Barcelona would need to pay €1.5 million to secure his permanent transfer, with an additional €3 million payable upon achieving certain performance-related objectives.