Manchester City have signed Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for an initial £62.5 million, with the 26-year-old forward signing a contract until 2031. The deal could rise to £64 million with add-ons, and Bournemouth will receive 10% of any future profit. Semenyo is expected to be in the squad for Saturday's FA Cup tie against Exeter.
Semenyo expressed his determination to help City close the six-point gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal. “It’s going to be a challenge to get into the title race but I’m ready and I’m ready to be part of this journey,” he said. The Ghana international, who also drew interest from Liverpool and Manchester United, described his move as a dream come true after a long road to the top.
Pep Guardiola indicated Semenyo could make his debut against Exeter, with the manager emphasising the need for a strong performance after three consecutive league draws. “We have to come back to winning games and the FA Cup is the FA Cup,” Guardiola said, confirming there would be little rotation.
Semenyo’s career has included loan spells at Bath and Newport before flourishing at Bristol City and Bournemouth. He credited his resilience for overcoming challenges: “I’ve had to be a strong character. Emotionally and mentally, I’ve had to get really strong. It’s made me the man I am today: strong, fearless and ready to attack the world.”
The forward has scored 10 goals and provided three assists in 20 Premier League appearances this season, and is also known for his long throw-ins. Guardiola, however, downplayed that attribute, saying he has “many thousands of priorities bigger than that”. Semenyo ended his Bournemouth stint with a decisive late goal in a 3-2 win over Tottenham on his 26th birthday.
