Manchester City are reportedly in advanced talks to sign 25-year-old Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, whose £65 million release clause expires on 10 January 2026. The move has attracted interest from several other Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Chelsea, highlighting Semenyo’s rise as one of England’s most sought-after forwards.

Born in London and eligible for Ghana internationally through his father, Semenyo has overcome early setbacks. He was rejected as a youngster by Arsenal, Spurs, and Millwall before joining a West Country academy under former manager Dave Hockaday. Bristol City signed him in 2017, but he required loan spells at Bath, Newport, and Sunderland before breaking into the first team in 2020-21. In January 2023, he moved to Bournemouth for £10 million and has since developed into one of the Premier League’s most exciting attacking talents.

Why Manchester City Want Semenyo

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has long been a fan of Semenyo, praising his energy, confidence, and relentless attacking movement. “He’s an extraordinary, extraordinary, extraordinary player… always hungry, always brave,” Guardiola said.

Despite some statistical metrics suggesting he may not vastly improve City’s existing wide options, Semenyo’s goal-scoring and assist contributions make him an appealing option. Since April, he has been directly involved in 16 Premier League goals, trailing only City striker Erling Haaland and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. He has scored 12 league goals in this period, second only to Haaland, and overperformed his expected goals tally more than any player apart from West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen.

Consummately two-footed and capable of driving forward vertically with the ball, Semenyo’s style adds a new dimension to City’s attack. His pace, dribbling success (69 successful dribbles this season), and direct running make him especially valuable in Guardiola’s system, which increasingly emphasizes fast transitions and counter-attacking football.

Bournemouth’s Hopes to Keep Semenyo

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola would love to retain Semenyo, who has already contributed to 11 of the club’s 26 goals this season. Despite a seven-match winless streak that has seen the Cherries fall to 15th in the Premier League, there is optimism around the club. New training facilities and a planned stadium upgrade provide additional incentives for Semenyo to stay.

Former Bournemouth striker Sam Vokes said: “I don’t know why you’d want to leave that setup… With the way he’s performing and the way Bournemouth have been doing, it looks like he’s enjoying his football.”

Semenyo has also shown remarkable consistency, with Bournemouth losing only two league matches in which he has scored since his debut in 2023. Teammate Justin Kluivert described him as “incredible… world class.”

Semenyo’s Fit at Manchester City

Manchester City face a congested fixture schedule and are chasing Arsenal in the Premier League title race. Semenyo would bolster their right-wing options, especially with injuries sidelining Rayan Cherki, Oscar Bobb, and Jeremy Doku, while players like Phil Foden are being shifted out of their natural positions.

Semenyo’s direct style, pace, and two-footed finishing suit Guardiola’s tactical approach. By providing attacking options behind Haaland, he can help reduce City’s reliance on the Norwegian striker while contributing goals himself — eight in the league this season, only behind Haaland and Igor Thiago.

The potential arrival of Semenyo may also see a departure, with players like Savinho or Oscar Bobb possibly moved on to accommodate him in the squad. Guardiola’s preference for versatile, dynamic players ensures Semenyo could start immediately, offering both short-term injury cover and long-term solutions.

Conclusion

Antoine Semenyo’s rise from academy reject to Premier League standout illustrates both his talent and determination. Manchester City see him as a player who can inject pace, creativity, and goal threat into their attack while fitting Guardiola’s tactical blueprint. Whether Bournemouth can persuade him to stay is uncertain, but City’s interest signals that the winger is on the verge of a high-profile transfer that could shape the title race in 2026.