By Kwame Bediako
Manchester City have finalized a blockbuster £65 million transfer for Ghana international Antoine Semenyo from AFC Bournemouth, shattering records for the most expensive deal involving a Ghanaian player.
The Premier League champions activated the 26-year-old forward’s release clause earlier this week, outpacing rivals like Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham, who had shown keen interest but failed to match the decisive move.
Semenyo sealed the deal by signing a five-and-a-half-year contract, committing to the Etihad Stadium until 2031 after passing his medical on Thursday, mere hours after his farewell appearance for Bournemouth against Tottenham Hotspur.
Semenyo wasted no time expressing his excitement about joining Pep Guardiola’s dynasty. “I am so proud to have joined Manchester City,” the forward declared. “This is a club with world-class players, world-class facilities and one of the greatest managers ever. I believe City can take my game to the next level and my best football is still to come.”
His enthusiasm underscores the allure of City’s project, where he arrives as a ready-made boost to their attacking options amid their pursuit of domestic and European dominance.
The Ghanaian’s trajectory at Bournemouth has been nothing short of spectacular since his £10 million switch from Bristol City in January 2023.
Over 110 appearances, Semenyo transformed into one of the Premier League’s most explosive attackers, blending pace, power, and clinical finishing.
This season alone, he notched 10 league goals, highlighted by a stunning brace at Liverpool and a dramatic last-gasp winner over Tottenham, performances that alerted top clubs to his elite potential.
Bristol City stand to gain handsomely too, pocketing 20 percent of the profit from Bournemouth’s windfall, which could exceed £11 million based on the initial sale price.
For Semenyo, the move elevates his versatility across the frontline, positioning him as a dynamic deputy or partner to City’s star strikers.
With over 30 caps for Ghana’s Black Stars, including a standout showing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he brings proven international pedigree to Guardiola’s tactical setup.
This landmark transfer cements Semenyo’s rise as a trailblazer and spotlights the surging influence of Ghanaian talent in Europe’s elite circles.
