Barcelona has signed Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim for €1.5 million. The Catalan team activated its option to secure the player on a permanent basis from Al Ahly.

What happened?

The transfer has become the center of an unexpected dispute in Egyptian football. Al-Kom Al-Ahmar, a club that previously played a role in Abdelkarim's development, has filed a formal complaint. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | Points in La Liga | 94 | | Position in La Liga | 1st | | Last result | Valencia 3-1 Barcelona (2026-05-23) |

Why it matters for Barcelona

Al-Kom Al-Ahmar's football director, Diaa Bahgat, has publicly argued that his club should receive a share of the transfer fee. “The paperwork is fully in order, with the player's signature, his father's signature and his father's fingerprint.”

What comes next?

The complaint has been submitted to the Egyptian Football Federation, and the club is seeking recognition of its rights under the solidarity mechanism. Barcelona has a recent form of LWLWW in its last 5 games. And the Catalan team is confident that the dispute will not affect the player's development. “Hamza Abdel Karim is like my little brother, but we have to protect the club's rights, and we are entitled to this, as stipulated by the Football Federation.”