Semenyo’s Transfer to Manchester City: Latest Developments

Antoine Semenyo has garnered significant interest from top clubs, with Manchester United reportedly keeping an eye on the talented 25-year-old. Additionally, a potential move to Liverpool has been discussed, particularly given uncertainties surrounding Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield.

However, Manchester City has emerged as the frontrunner for Semenyo’s signature, aiming to finalize an agreement early in 2026. Pep Guardiola’s squad is already rich in attacking talent, yet another proven Premier League player is expected to bolster the Manchester ranks.

Ben Jacobs reports that Semenyo’s transfer from Bournemouth to Manchester City is now agreed in principle. He further notes that both clubs are in the process of drafting the necessary paperwork, with more clarity expected within the next 24 hours.

City seems poised to win the race for this highly sought-after player. Nevertheless, Guardiola has remained tight-lipped regarding Semenyo’s potential move. When last approached about the transfer, he stated, “I don’t know any news about anything right now. I’m sorry, I don’t have any news. So the transfer window is completely closed right now.”

This season, Semenyo has scored nine goals for Bournemouth, following a successful previous term where he netted 13 goals. Despite the attention surrounding him, he has made a concerted effort to remain focused on his performance.

The Chelsea-born forward, who began his career at Bristol City, shared his perspective on the ongoing speculation: “I don’t think about it too much. I try to stay present as much as I can. You see the news all the time; I see it as well, I’m not oblivious, but I try to keep focused. I’m enjoying my football here. If I’m not scoring goals, all of that goes away. I try to stay present, do the best I can for the team, score goals, and whatever happens in the future happens.”

Bournemouth is poised to make a significant profit from Semenyo’s potential transfer, having purchased him in January 2023 for £10 million ($13 million). Nonetheless, they will not part with their star player without a fight. Cherries manager Andoni Iraola remains optimistic that Semenyo will continue to contribute to the team’s success.

After a 2-2 draw against Chelsea, he expressed confidence in Semenyo’s performance, stating, “Antoine is performing very well, and I’m expecting him to be available also in the next game for us too. I hope he continues playing the same way. There is a lot of noise around him, but my worry as a coach is that he can keep up the performance level he is having.”

Iraola also mentioned, “It’s not his last game here with us. I cannot say 100% but I think he will play [against Arsenal]. He has to recover; we’ve played two difficult games in three days. We have Arsenal at home, and we are preparing for another demanding match against the leaders. He is definitely going to be an important player for us.”

However, the situation may soon be out of Iraola’s hands if the release clause in Semenyo’s contract is activated. City is prepared to meet the asking price, making a deal increasingly likely.

While it is uncertain if the official paperwork will be completed in time for Semenyo to feature in their upcoming match against a managerless Chelsea on Sunday, both clubs are cautious about his fitness ahead of Bournemouth’s clash with Arsenal. This may indicate that a farewell to the south coast has already begun.