Barcelona are moving fast. After weeks of quiet talks, the club submitted a formal offer to Al Ahly on December 11, 2025, for 17-year-old Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim. One week later, reports say Barcelona have now proposed a six-month loan with a €4 million buy option, while a straight €2 million purchase also remains on the table. The target: a January move, the moment he turns 18 and can complete the switch to Europe.

He is young, raw, and in demand. He also wants the move. And Barcelona’s sporting chief Deco is reportedly driving the operation. It is a classic Barça bet: find the talent early, bring him in at a workable price, and develop him inside a system that values touch, timing, and quick thinking.

Why Barcelona want Hamza Abdelkarim now

Abdelkarim lit up the U17 World Cup with two goals, catching the eye of Barça scouts. He is quick, direct, and brave in the box. For a club that needs to refresh its forward line for the long run, this is a sensible play. The fee is modest by elite standards, and the upside is clear if he grows inside Barcelona’s style.

Age matters here. Abdelkarim turns 18 in early 2026, which is the key for any move to Europe. The plan is to bring him in as soon as rules allow, get him settled in the academy or second team, and then slowly raise the level. The summer is when he is expected to work more closely with the first-team professionals.

“Is this Deco’s next smart low-risk bet or a real first-team fast track?”

The deal on the table: loan with option vs. straight buy

Two structures are in play:

• A six-month loan starting in January, with a €4 million buy option.
• A direct purchase around €2 million, a figure compared in reports to other recent teen signings on the market.

Both models point to the same idea: Barcelona want the player, and they want clarity early in the window. A loan with option spreads the risk and lets Barça verify the fit. A direct buy locks in a lower fee and ends the competition before it grows. Either way, the club’s offer signals belief in the player’s ceiling and comfort with the short-term cost.

Al Ahly’s decision, family pressure, and timing

Al Ahly will review the offer in a closed meeting, weighing the sporting plan and the financials. This is not a simple choice for them. Abdelkarim is one of the brightest young forwards in their system, and interest from Bayern Munich and Milan shows this is a player with a real market.

At the same time, the player’s camp is pushing to move. Abdelkarim has expressed his desire to join Barcelona, his father has publicly urged Al Ahly to green-light the transfer, and the teen has aligned with a European advisory agency to manage the jump. The message is clear: the timing is now.

“If Al Ahly say no now, do they risk losing a motivated player and a fair fee later?”

What Barcelona’s pathway would look like

The idea is simple and sensible. Abdelkarim would start in the youth setup or the second team to learn the system, the tempo, and the daily demands. Then, as he settles, he would train more often with the professionals. By summer, Hansi Flick is expected to work with him in preseason, which is where many youngsters make a leap in confidence and speed.

Nobody is promising instant first-team minutes. That is not the point of this move. The point is to get a talented 17-year-old into the building, let him learn, and see how fast he adapts.

Scouting snapshot: U17 World Cup form and upside

Scoring twice at the U17 World Cup put Abdelkarim on a bigger stage. For scouts, those games reveal how a player handles pressure, space, and travel. The goals matter, but so does the movement, the pressing, and the ability to connect with teammates across styles. Barcelona saw enough to act first, even with Bayern and Milan also circling.

At this age, development is not linear. Good weeks and tough weeks come fast. The key is the environment. If Abdelkarim’s instincts fit Barcelona’s passing game and he responds to coaching, the ceiling rises sharply. If not, the reported fees protect the club from major risk.

“Two million for a rising U17 World Cup scorer? That’s a lottery ticket worth buying.”

Deco’s role and the broader transfer strategy

Deco is said to be leading the talks, and that tracks with Barcelona’s recent push to identify and secure top teenagers before their price explodes. This is part talent search, part budget play. Young signings with clear profiles are cheaper now and can be shaped in-house. If they hit, you have a long-term asset. If not, the downside is limited, especially at the reported figures.

What happens next

The calendar matters. The January window opens soon, and Abdelkarim is about to turn 18. Al Ahly’s closed meeting will set the tone. If they accept the loan-plus-option path, Barcelona can move quickly once the player becomes eligible. If they prefer a straight sale, the final number will be in the region already discussed.

Either way, the momentum favors a solution. The player wants Barcelona. Barcelona want him. The coach will get a prospect to shape. And Al Ahly have a chance to secure a fair fee while honoring a young talent’s next step.

Bottom line

Barcelona are closing in on Hamza Abdelkarim because the fit is there: price, profile, and pathway. He will not fix the present on day one, and that is fine. The aim is to give a gifted 17-year-old the right place to grow. For a club that needs smart, sustainable bets, this one makes football and financial sense.

Watch for Al Ahly’s decision and the final structure. If all goes to plan, Barça’s first move of January could be a quiet one with a loud future.