Antoine Semenyo scored Manchester City's winner in the FA Cup final against Chelsea, marking another milestone in his remarkable career journey. The winger, who started with loans at Bath City and Newport County, has now reached the pinnacle of English football.
From Wiltshire to Wembley
Semenyo's path to the top has been anything but straightforward. After rejections from clubs across London as a teenager, he rebuilt his career at the Wiltshire Sports Academy and South Gloucestershire and Stroud College before earning a professional contract at Bristol City at 17. Loans followed at Bath City in National League South, Newport in League Two, and Sunderland in League One, before he moved to Bournemouth in the Premier League. International recognition with Ghana and a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar soon followed.
A Season of Highs
Since his £65m move from Bournemouth to Manchester City in January, Semenyo has been on a tear. He played a part in the Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal in March and scored the only goal in the FA Cup final against Chelsea—a spinning, back-heeled volley on 72 minutes. It was his 20th goal of the season, with 10 for Bournemouth and 10 for City. His 16 Premier League goals are second only to Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago.
"It's been surreal," Semenyo says. "Everything's just happened so quickly."
A Historic Achievement
Semenyo became the first former Bath City player to score in an FA Cup final since Stan Mortensen in 1953. But there is no time to dwell, as City chase a domestic treble. Arsenal lead the league by two points with two games left, but City intend to push them all the way. Next up for Semenyo is a return to Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
"To be honest, they've been giving me a lot of crap," Semenyo says of his former teammates. "Just like they're going to kick me and this and that. But it'll be good to see them all." Bournemouth have not lost in the league since Semenyo left, a run of 15 matches. "I was the problem," he deadpans.
Mentality and Guardiola
Semenyo has felt his mentality harden since joining City, surrounded by winners like Pep Guardiola. The manager was not happy at half-time against Chelsea and demanded more. "He was just normal Pep… a lot of emotion," Semenyo says. Guardiola has won 17 major trophies in 10 years at City, and speculation about his future continues. Phil Foden, an unused substitute in the final, said, "I'm really happy that he's still here at the moment."
For Semenyo, the journey continues. "We just have to win our games and apply pressure the best way we can," he says. So far, it has been very good.
