By Kwame Bediako
Ghana international Antoine Semenyo has opened up about the early setbacks in his career, revealing that he was turned down by several Premier League academies despite repeated trials as a youngster.
His journey from rejection to the top level is now seen as a key part of his motivation and resilience as a professional.
Early trials and setbacks
Semenyo attended trials at Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, Fulham, Millwall and Crystal Palace between the ages of 11 and 15, with his last tryout at Palace at age 15.
He spent two months at Crystal Palace but was not signed, and the repeated rejections left him frustrated and disappointed, leading him to abandon football for a year and focus on school.
Breakthrough and rise to the top
After returning to the game, Semenyo developed at Bristol City and then joined AFC Bournemouth in 2023, where he scored 30 goals in 101 appearances and became a key attacking figure.
His 20 goals and assists in 32 Championship games in his breakthrough season (2020–21 and 2021–22) helped attract national‑team attention, earning his Black Stars debut in May 2022 ahead of AFCON qualifying.
Move to Manchester City and senior status
Following a strong campaign at Bournemouth, Semenyo transferred to Manchester City in January and scored six goals in 16 matches, establishing himself as a versatile forward at the club.
By reflecting on his academy rejections, Semenyo has turned his early disappointments into a story of perseverance that now defines his professional identity and growing standing within the Ghana national team setup.
