Walid Salah El-Din, the football director at Al Ahly Club, announced the transfer of the young striker Hamza Abdel Karim, aged 18, to the Spanish club Barcelona during the current winter transfer window. This move is considered one of the most significant steps for young Egyptian talents towards European professionalism.

Although no official statement has been issued by Al-Ahly Club so far, Walid Salah El-Din's remarks confirmed that the deal has indeed been finalized, and that Hamza Abdel Karim will join Barcelona's reserve team. He said in a television interview: "Yes, Hamza Abdel Karim will move to Barcelona. I wish him success in proving himself there and not returning to Egypt."

The player is expected to move to Barcelona on loan until the end of the season, with the agreement including a purchase option for an amount not exceeding 3 million euros, with the possibility of the value rising to 5 million euros depending on certain variables related to participation and performance.

Hamza Abdel Karim had already bid farewell to his teammates at Al Ahly Club in preparation for starting his professional journey. He is set to arrive in Barcelona next week to join Barcelona B, which is led by former defender Juliano Belletti, according to the Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo."