Barcelona set to complete the permanent signing of Egyptian gem on Monday – report | OneFootball

Barcelona may have gone a bit quiet after securing the blockbuster signing of Anthony Gordon earlier in the summer. But the club are working in between the scenes to complete some key additions.

One of them is Egyptian star talent Hamza Abdelkarim.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalans are on the verge of completing the permanent signing of Hamza, with the 18-year-old Egyptian striker set to officially become a Barcelona player as early as next Monday.

Hamza in action during the ongoing World Cup. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

The forward spent this past season on loan with Barcelona’s Juvenil A side and is currently representing Egypt at the World Cup, having earned a place in Hossam Hassan’s squad after a series of impressive performances at youth level.

Deal nearing completion

The report suggests Barcelona exercised their purchase option with Al-Ahly last week, and the finalisation of the transfer is now pending only the completion of the remaining bureaucratic procedures.

The two clubs are currently exchanging documentation and fulfilling the necessary formalities, with all indications pointing to final approval being granted on Monday.

The exchange of documents is expected to conclude before June 30, the agreed deadline by which everything must be completed to comply with the terms of the deal.

Al-Ahly themselves confirmed the agreement last week through an official statement on social media, revealing that Barcelona had activated the purchase option and that the transfer fee was set at €1.5 million plus variables.

Hamza will soon become an official Barcelona player. (Photo courtesy: FC Barcelona official website)

A smart deal for Barcelona?

Hamza Abdelkarim is a low-risk, high-potential addition for Barcelona, who have been monitoring Abdelkarim closely throughout his loan spell.

His progress at Juvenil A level, combined with his inclusion in Egypt’s World Cup squad at such a young age, makes him an asset, who has undeniable potential.

One minor complication has emerged in Egypt, where the player’s former club Al-Kom Al-Ahmar are reportedly claiming a portion of the transfer fee from Al-Ahly as part of a rights agreement.

However, that dispute is strictly between the Egyptian parties and does not affect Barcelona in any way.