MADRID, June 12 — FC Barcelona has completed the permanent signing of promising teenage Egyptian international striker Hamza Abdelkarim from Al Ahly.
Barcelona paid Abdelkarim’s 1.5 million-euro (1.7 million U.S. dollars) release clause after the forward impressed during a loan spell that began in February, scoring 12 goals in 22 appearances for Barcelona’s Under-19 side. Despite only featuring for Barcelona at youth level, the 18-year-old has been included in Egypt’s squad for the World Cup finals and will wear the number 9 shirt, although he has made only two brief appearances for the national team. His debut came against Russia on May 28, when he appeared as an 86th-minute substitute. Abdelkarim then played the second half of Egypt’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Brazil in Cleveland on Sunday after replacing Haissem Hassan at halftime.
Egypt faces Belgium on June 15 before taking on New Zealand and Iran in a group that the African side, featuring players such as Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, will be confident of progressing from to reach the knockout stage.Â
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