Hamza Abdel Karim on the Brink of Historic Barcelona Transfer, Igniting Egyptian Football Dreams
Egyptian football is poised for a potentially landmark moment, as rising star Hamza Abdel Karim, currently with Al-Ahly, is heavily linked with a move to Spanish giants Barcelona. The 17-year-old, who recently showcased his talent with the Egyptian U-17 team at the FIFA Junior World Cup in Qatar last month, has reportedly attracted interest from several top European clubs, including Bayern Munich, before Barcelona emerged as a frontrunner.
Should the transfer materialize, Abdel Karim would become the first Egyptian player to officially wear the Barcelona shirt. However, he wouldn’t be the first Egyptian to grace the pitches of the Spanish League – a history marked by both promise and unfulfilled potential.
The most notable prior experience came from Ahmed Hossam “Mido,” the former Zamalek star, who joined Celta Vigo on loan in the 2002-2003 season. Despite a relatively brief six-month stint, Mido left a mark, participating in eight La Liga matches against Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol, Real Betis, Osasuna, Valladolid, Deportivo Alaves, Villarreal, and Real Sociedad. He notably didn’t feature in games against Barcelona or Real Madrid. During his time with Celta Vigo, Mido scored four crucial goals – against Athletic Bilbao, Osasuna (twice), and Real Sociedad – representing the most significant contribution by an Egyptian player in the Spanish top flight to date.
Beyond Mido, other Egyptians have attempted to establish themselves in Spain, with varying degrees of success. Amr Tarek, currently a defender for Talaea El Gaish, joined Real Betis in the 2015-2016 season from El Gouna in a deal valued at approximately €300,000, according to Transfermarkt. However, Tarek never made an official appearance for Betis, quickly moving on loan to the American Columbus Crew before returning to Egypt with Enppi.
Experiences at the youth level also reveal a pattern of near misses. Real Betis previously signed Omar Sayed Moawad from Al-Ahly, but a cruciate ligament injury derailed his progress. Similarly, Ziad Fathi, a product of Zamalek’s youth academy, moved to Celta Vigo’s under-19 team last March, but his experience ultimately proved unsuccessful, leading to a transfer to the youth team of Albanian club Skanderbeu Kurtsa.
Egyptian football now places considerable hope in Abdel Karim’s potential move to Barcelona, viewing it as a fresh opportunity to make a lasting impact in La Liga. “This could be a watershed moment for Egyptian football,” stated a senior sports analyst. “After several attempts that didn’t quite reach their full potential in other European leagues, the stakes are high for Abdel Karim to succeed.”
The journey to this point underscores the ambition and talent within Egyptian football, and the potential for its players to compete at the highest levels of the European game.
