Barcelona register 18-year-old Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim
18-year-old Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim has been officially registered with the Barcelona first-team squad following a strong pre-season.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Author: Diliff
Barcelona have officially registered 18-year-old forward Hamza Abdelkarim with their first-team squad for the La Liga season. The teenager has been handed the No. 29 shirt following a prolific pre-season campaign where he scored four goals in summer friendlies.
Manager Hansi Flick has been convinced of the forward's potential, even naming him on the bench for the club's dominant 5-0 victory over Elche in the opening match. This milestone arrives just six months after Abdelkarim's move from Al Ahly.
Following his official promotion, the attacker expressed his gratitude on social media: "Thank you, Coach Hansi Flick, for your trust."
Abdelkarim already possesses significant international experience, having been part of the Egypt side that reached the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. Under Flick, the coaching staff now aims to refine his pressing, link-up play, and physical adaptation to the senior level.
The club will look to integrate him into the rotation gradually. Abdelkarim must now maintain his consistency in training to earn a competitive senior debut in the coming weeks.