Hamza Abdelkarim impresses Barcelona in pre-season start
Has made an early case for more minutes at Barcelona after scoring against Birmingham City and drawing praise from Hansi Flick. The 18-year-old Egypt striker…
BARCELONA — Hamza Abdelkarim made an early impact for Barcelona this summer, scoring against Birmingham City and strengthening his case for a place in Hansi Flick’s plans. The Egypt striker’s sharp pre-season form has already put the 18-year-old on the radar of the first-team staff.
The performance mattered for more than one reason. Barcelona have plenty of young players in training this week, but Abdelkarim has stood out by starting the club’s first two friendlies of the summer, against Europa and Birmingham City. That kind of trust is rare for a teenager trying to break through at a club with fierce competition for places.
Against Birmingham on English soil, Abdelkarim showed the range that has impressed the coaching staff. He played with his back to goal, held up the ball well and attacked defenders when he turned to face them. Goal described the display as “very convincing,” while Catalan newspaper Sport named him among the standout young players in Flick’s group.
The goal came from the penalty spot. Abdelkarim read his marker’s movement, won the spot-kick and then took responsibility himself, driving the ball left-footed past Birmingham goalkeeper James Beadle for his first goal of the summer. He also kept showing for the ball, moving constantly inside the box and staying active throughout the first half.
His work rate drew notice too. Abdelkarim committed three of Barcelona’s six fouls in the first half and picked up a yellow card for the last one. Even that detail fits the profile Flick wants from his forwards: effort, pressure and a willingness to fight for every ball.
Hamza Abdelkarim and Barcelona's striker race
Abdelkarim joined Barcelona from Al Ahly and later completed a permanent move after initially arriving on loan in the winter window. ESPN reported the transfer was completed for an initial fee of €1.5 million ($1.7m), and the club decided to keep him after a run of strong performances in the youth teams.
His rise has been quick. He made his international debut for Egypt in a 1-0 win over Russia on May 28, then came off the bench in a 2-1 loss to Brazil in Cleveland. He also wore the No. 9 shirt for Egypt at the World Cup, where he made four appearances before the team exited in the last 16 after a 3-2 loss to Argentina.
The immediate next step is simple. Abdelkarim is expected to link up with Flick’s first-team squad for pre-season training on Monday, despite having just finished international duty. Reports in Spain said he has chosen not to take the two weeks of vacation he was entitled to, preferring to go straight back to Barcelona and push for minutes in 2026-27.
That decision puts him in the middle of a crowded summer picture. Barcelona still want an out-and-out striker in the transfer window, and final decisions on the attacking line-up will come later. For now, Abdelkarim has given Flick a timely reminder: he can finish, he can press and he is already making his mark when chances arrive.
