Antoine Semenyo is expected to join Manchester City from Bournemouth for £65m, a fee that would be headline news in most leagues but barely registers in England. The Ghanaian winger's price tag reflects the Premier League's inflated economics, where such sums have become routine.
At 25 with four and a half years left on his contract, Semenyo is quick, skilful and hard-working. Yet £65m would make him the third-most expensive player in Bundesliga history, seventh in Serie A and 14th in La Liga. Only nine non-English clubs have ever paid more for a player.
The fee highlights market distortions, where demand for certain player types drives prices. Semenyo drew interest from Chelsea and Liverpool, while Nordi Mukiele, who joined Sunderland for a fraction of the cost, had been forgotten after a poor loan spell. Similarly, the trend for big centre-forwards has seen inflated fees for players like Benjamin Sesko, who has struggled this season.
Among the summer's expensive strikers, only a few have succeeded. Newcastle's Nick Woltemade has impressed with seven goals and assists, while Liverpool's Hugo Ekitiké has managed eight goals. But others, including record signing Alexander Isak, have underwhelmed, suggesting the market may be overheating.
