Antoine Semenyo’s Future at Bournemouth in Jeopardy Amid Transfer Interest

omidbasir- Six months ago, Antoine Semenyo’s future at Bournemouth seemed secure after he signed a five-year contract that extends until 2030. Following the signing, the 25-year-old expressed his satisfaction with the club, stating, “I’ve grown so much at the club, both on and off the pitch, and I’m really happy to have signed ahead of returning for pre-season. From the fans to the staff and my teammates, I can’t speak highly enough of the people around the club. It’s a great place to be, and I’m excited to get back to Bournemouth and continue the hard work with the new season just around the corner.”

Bournemouth’s President of Football Operations, Tiago Pinto, described Semenyo as “crucial” to the club’s advancement and a “key member” of their ongoing project. He remarked, “We have a great relationship with Antoine and we’re looking forward to continuing that as we hope to build on a record-breaking season. His commitment to the club matches our ambition, and I’m excited to see what can be achieved as we prepare for the new campaign.”

However, by the end of December, the situation had shifted significantly. Despite a strong start to the season, where Bournemouth reached as high as second in the Premier League table, the team has struggled recently, now positioned at 15th with no victories in their last five league matches. Nevertheless, Semenyo has had an impressive performance, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in 17 appearances. This level of productivity is likely why Bournemouth’s coach, Andoni Iraola, is keen to retain him. Iraola stated last week, “No, the more games Antoine can play for us, [the better]. If he can play years for us, it’s much better! If it cannot be years, it can be months. If he can only play weeks, it is weeks, but the more time he plays with us, the better for us. Antoine’s situation is quite clear. Antoine is a massive player for us, and even in games like today where probably he hasn’t played well, he is always a threat to score and assist. Obviously, I don’t want to lose him. This is quite clear, but there are some situations that are not under my control. He will be available to play again in three days [against Chelsea], and then the next one, and I hope he plays a lot more with us.”

As speculation mounts regarding a transfer, interest in Semenyo has emerged from clubs including Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United, and Chelsea. However, Manchester City appears to be leading the race for the winger. Reports indicate that Semenyo desires to clarify his future by the opening day of the January transfer window. According to Sky Sports, his representatives are expected to negotiate personal terms with City, aiming to finalize contract details ahead of a potential £65 million transfer. Pep Guardiola’s squad is reportedly the only team to have approached Bournemouth regarding Semenyo’s release clause as they pursue this notable acquisition.

If City successfully conclude the deal, Semenyo may play his final match for Bournemouth against Chelsea on Tuesday. Following that, City is set to face Sunderland on January 1 and have a home match against Chelsea three days later. Should negotiations progress rapidly, the former Bristol City player could be poised to join City in time for one of these matches.