Antoine Semenyo moves to Manchester City. On his way to the top of the world, the winger had to take a few detours.
It was a fairy-tale evening for Antoine Semenyo. In the match between AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur, stoppage time was already well underway when the man of the hour provided a golden moment. With the score at 2:2, Semenyo got too much space about 20 meters from the Spurs’ goal, didn’t hesitate long, and hammered a long-range shot into the net.
The significance of the 3:2 winning goal could hardly be greater. On his 26th birthday, Semenyo not only ended a run of eleven Premier League games without a win but also celebrated a crowning farewell from Bournemouth.
For what had been apparent for days was officially announced on Friday. The winger is moving to Manchester City. With a rumored transfer fee of over 70 million euros, he is this winter’s first mega-transfer.
Semenyo and his fairy-tale farewell: “Nobody deserves it more”
Nevertheless, the fans in Bournemouth gave Semenyo a grateful farewell on Wednesday evening and created a goosebump moment when he was substituted a few seconds before the final whistle. Both players and fans showed respect for each other with applause.
“If this was his last appearance for Bournemouth, there’s no better way to end it. This is the stuff movies are made of – and nobody deserves it more than him,” raved teammate Marcus Tavernier after the game on Sky Sports , adding: “We will miss him for his quality, but also as a personality in the dressing room. If this was his last moment, we definitely need to find new solutions up front.”
Indeed, Semenyo has already scored ten goals and provided three assists this season. This means he was involved in almost 40 percent of his team’s goals. Coach Andoni Iraola’s praise was accordingly high: “He was – if not the best – then one of the best players I have coached. He has improved every single season. He scored ten goals in half a season and isn’t even a classic number nine.”
According to Iraola, the goals are not solely responsible for the Ghanaian international’s success. “It’s not just the numbers, but many other things: his physics, his aerial duels, his defensive work. He will be greatly missed,” explained the Spaniard.
From the Sixth League to Guardiola and City
However, Semenyo’s career has not always been as steep as in the recent past. At 15, the Premier League star was rejected by numerous youth academies, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, Tottenham, and most recently Crystal Palace.
According to the English tabloid The Sun , Semenyo had actually given up on his career and was preparing to play basketball with his friends. However, a turning point ensured that his career took off again, albeit indirectly.
At 16, Semenyo took part in a trial with former Leeds coach Dave Hockaday, who convinced him to move to Swindon and study while trying to become a footballer. It wouldn’t be a full year until Semenyo was accepted into Bristol City’s academy.
However, the City newcomer’s career did not continue in a straight line. In 2018, Semenyo was loaned to sixth-tier club Bath City to mature as a player. Nevertheless, his talent was always recognized in Bristol.
Striker Nakhi Wells recalled that time in The Sun , explaining: “Many people used to ask me, ‘Who is this kid?’ He was a bit unpredictable. He didn’t come through a youth academy, so he was a bit raw. But he was fast, he was strong, he had two equally good feet. He’s a phenomenal finisher. He’s one of the best finishers I’ve ever seen.”
After further loan spells at Newport County and AFC Sunderland, Semenyo has now reached the top of the world, but he hasn’t stopped working hard. Last summer, he contacted renowned individual coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst, who was quickly impressed by the player’s abilities.
“I said to Antoine, ‘You are a Champions League player. You should be playing in the Champions League,'” he said in an interview with The Sun , adding: “He could play for any club in this world. He has much more potential and has not yet reached his peak.”
The path there now leads Semenyo to Manchester City, making him Bournemouth’s record departure. Bournemouth has produced top players in recent years such as Ilya Zabarnyi (Paris Saint-Germain), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), and Milos Kerkez (Liverpool FC).
Semenyo himself posted a highlight video of the game against Tottenham on Instagram on Thursday, commenting: “The cherry on top.”
Already at the turn of the year, the winger showed gratitude and wrote: “2025, I don’t even know where to begin; the love was boundless. These pictures don’t even tell the whole story, but thank you, God, for your protection, your blessings, and your work in my life. 2026, let’s go!”