Hamza Abdelkarim has secured his place in Barcelona’s squad for the UEFA Champions League league phase, offering a fresh indication of the club’s faith in the Egyptian striker and their commitment to incorporating him into first-team plans.
Barcelona were required to register Hamza in their primary 25-man “List A,” as he does not yet meet the criteria for “List B”—which is reserved for young players who have spent at least two consecutive seasons within the club’s youth academy.
While inclusion on the list does not guarantee playing time, it confirms Barcelona’s desire to keep him available for European competition, especially with new arrival Gabriel Jesus standing as the squad’s only other natural center-forward.
Hamza earned his spot after scoring six goals in 11 appearances for the youth side before finishing as Barcelona’s top scorer during pre-season with four goals, including a brace against Birmingham and a goal against Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy.
The 18-year-old forward waited until the match against Rayo Vallecano to make his official La Liga debut, featuring in the final five minutes after remaining on the bench for the opening two league fixtures.
His limited minutes stem partly from fierce competition following Raphinha’s strong performances in the central striker role. Meanwhile, reports suggest Barcelona prefer to delay granting him a larger role until securing his long-term contract, fearing that increased exposure could attract outside interest while his release clause remains low.
Although Hamza’s current contract runs through 2029, the club is actively negotiating with his agent to improve his salary and raise his release clause from €15 million to €150 million, protecting him from rival suitors before expanding his role across domestic and European fixtures.
