Barcelona have moved quickly to secure the future of Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim, handing the 18-year-old a new contract that runs until 2030. Abdelkarim only joined the club permanently during the summer, but an impressive preseason has already convinced Barcelona to improve his terms. He scored four goals during five friendly appearances and earned comparisons with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, leading to the nickname Haaland of the Nile.

The new agreement includes an improved salary and a significantly higher buyout clause, reportedly exceeding €100 million. Barcelona initially signed Abdelkarim from Egyptian giants Al Ahly for €1.5 million after bringing him to the club in January. He was first expected to develop with the reserve setup before spending last season with the Under-19 team, but his rapid progress has accelerated his path toward senior football.

Abdelkarim’s breakthrough has also come at international level. He made his senior debut for Egypt in May and featured in four of their five World Cup matches before the Pharaohs were eliminated by Argentina in the round of 16. After returning to Barcelona with limited rest, he joined Hansi Flick’s preseason squad and made a strong impression before making his La Liga debut against Rayo Vallecano in August. He has since remained part of the first-team squad for all six matches this season.

The teenager currently sits behind Raphinha and Gabriel Jesus in Barcelona’s striker hierarchy, although Flick has several other players capable of operating through the middle. Despite the competition for places, Abdelkarim’s rapid development has made him an increasingly important prospect for the Spanish champions. His new long-term deal reflects Barcelona’s desire to protect one of their emerging attacking talents while giving him time to develop into a more prominent first-team player.