Antoine Semenyo
Antoine Semenyo's journey in professional football is a testament to unwavering perseverance, transforming early rejections from top clubs into a remarkable ascent through the ranks. From proving himself in lower leagues to shining on the international stage for Ghana, his story is one of a player who consistently defied expectations. Let's delve into the thrilling career of this dynamic talent, culminating in a blockbuster move to one of England's biggest clubs. Semenyo overcame numerous rejections from elite academies, demonstrating a profound dedication that shaped his early career. His time at Bristol City and subsequent loan spells were crucial proving grounds, showcasing his versatility and burgeoning goal-scoring ability. A significant move to AFC Bournemouth solidified his Premier League status before a high-profile transfer to Manchester City cemented his place among football's elite.
AI Summary
Antoine Semenyo's journey in professional football is a testament to unwavering perseverance, transforming early rejections from top clubs into a remarkable ascent through the ranks. From proving himself in lower leagues to shining on the international stage for Ghana, his story is one of a player who consistently defied expectations. Let's delve into the thrilling career of this dynamic talent, culminating in a blockbuster move to one of England's biggest clubs.
- Semenyo overcame numerous rejections from elite academies, demonstrating a profound dedication that shaped his early career.
- His time at Bristol City and subsequent loan spells were crucial proving grounds, showcasing his versatility and burgeoning goal-scoring ability.
- A significant move to AFC Bournemouth solidified his Premier League status before a high-profile transfer to Manchester City cemented his place among football's elite.
The Unseen Talent
Even promising talents face their share of setbacks. For a young Antoine Semenyo, the path to professional football was paved with rejection letters from some of London's biggest clubs, including Arsenal, Tottenham, and Millwall. At just 15, Crystal Palace also turned him away after an eight-week trial, leading him to consider giving up on his dream entirely.
It was Dave Hockaday who saw something special in Semenyo, convincing him to join a youth academy program at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College. This lifeline proved pivotal, as Semenyo's raw talent began to blossom, attracting renewed interest from clubs like Birmingham City, Crystal Palace, and eventually, Bristol City. In 2017, he officially joined Bristol City's academy, taking his first major step.
Forging Steel in the Lower Leagues
Semenyo signed his first professional contract in January 2018 and immediately went on loan to Bath City. There, he made a significant impact, scoring six goals in just 16 appearances. This experience quickly prepared him for his Bristol City debut on the final day of the 2017–18 season.
The following season, a loan move to EFL League Two side Newport County offered more crucial development. Semenyo found his stride, not only scoring his first professional goal in an EFL Cup win but also adapting his game. He transitioned from a pure striker to playing on the wing, showcasing a versatility that would become a hallmark of his career.
His time at Newport was highlighted by stunning FA Cup upsets. Semenyo played a full 90 minutes as Newport famously knocked out Premier League giants Leicester City, and then held Championship side Middlesbrough to a draw. These performances caught the eye, leading to his recall by Bristol City after 32 appearances for the Welsh club.
Back at Bristol City, Semenyo began to integrate into the first team, making his first start in March 2019. Despite an unfortunate first career red card later that season, the club showed faith in his potential, awarding him a new four-year contract in June 2019.
The 2019–20 season saw another loan spell, this time with Sunderland in EFL League One. Although he didn't score for the Black Cats, the experience further honed his game, preparing him for the challenges of senior football before returning to Bristol City at the season's end.
Bristol City Breakthrough
The 2020–21 season marked Antoine's true breakthrough at Bristol City. He scored his first goals for the club in the EFL Cup and began to consistently contribute with assists, demonstrating his growing influence on the attacking front. His hard work paid off, as he ended the season with five goals and seven assists from fifty competitive games.
His stellar performances earned him the prestigious Bristol City's Young Player of the Year award. The momentum continued into the 2021–22 season, where Semenyo truly hit his stride, registering an impressive eight goals and twelve assists in just 32 appearances. He was named the EFL Championship Player of the Month for January 2022, a testament to his electrifying form.
The Premier League Beckons
Semenyo carried his fantastic form into the 2022–23 season, scoring in both the EFL Cup and his first two Championship appearances. His consistent goal-scoring in January 2023, including an FA Cup goal against Swansea City, began to attract significant attention from Premier League clubs.
After reported interest and several rejected offers, Antoine Semenyo completed a significant £10 million transfer to AFC Bournemouth on January 27, 2023. This move was a dream realized, thrusting him onto the biggest stage in English football.
Making Waves at Bournemouth
Semenyo made his Premier League debut shortly after joining Bournemouth and scored his first goal for the club in April 2023. His first full season, 2023–24, saw him score a crucial goal at Anfield against Liverpool and finish with eight goals and two assists from 33 appearances, proving his worth in the top flight.
His impact at Bournemouth only grew. After signing a new contract in July 2024, he started the 2024–25 season in sensational form. Key goals included an equalizer against Nottingham Forest, a winner against Manchester City that ended their 11-month unbeaten run, and a remarkable goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Semenyo continued to be a prolific scorer throughout the 2024-25 season, netting his tenth goal in April and finishing the campaign with a personal best eleven Premier League goals. His consistent performances led to another contract extension with Bournemouth in July 2025.
The 2025–26 season began just as strongly, with Semenyo scoring two goals against Liverpool on the opening day and continuing his scoring streak against Brighton and Leeds. A brace against Fulham in October took his tally to six goals in just seven league matches, making him one of the league's most talked-about forwards.
The Manchester City Era
After a further string of goals for Bournemouth, including a dramatic last-minute winner against Tottenham Hotspur, the rumors intensified. On January 9, 2026, the football world was set ablaze: Manchester City announced they had signed Antoine Semenyo on a five-and-a-half-year contract for a staggering £64 million.
His impact at City was immediate. Just a day after signing, Semenyo debuted in an FA Cup match, scoring a goal and assisting another in a dominant 10–1 victory. Three days later, he scored his first EFL Cup goal for City against Newcastle United, helping secure a 5–1 aggregate semi-final win.
Antoine scored his first Premier League goal for Manchester City on January 24, 2026, in a 2–0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He went on to feature in City's 2–0 win over Arsenal to claim the 2025–26 EFL Cup, adding a major trophy to his burgeoning career.
International Stardom with Ghana
Semenyo's club form didn't go unnoticed internationally. He received his first call-up to the Ghana national team in May 2022, making his debut for the Black Stars in a convincing 3–0 Africa Cup of Nations qualification win against Madagascar in June.
His dream of playing in a World Cup became a reality when he was included in Ghana's 26-man squad for the 2022 tournament in Qatar. He even scored his first international goal in a warm-up match against Switzerland, before making two substitute appearances in the group stage against Portugal and Uruguay.
Semenyo continued to be a vital player for Ghana, scoring a dramatic last-minute winner in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola in March 2023. He also represented Ghana at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, starting all three group matches.
Ghana Goals
Here's a look at Antoine Semenyo's international goals for Ghana:
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 17 November 2022 Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Switzerland 2–0 2–0 Friendly 2 23 March 2023 Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana Angola 1–0 1–0 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification 3 21 March 2025 Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana Chad 1–0 5–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
Beyond the Pitch
Football runs in the family for Antoine Semenyo. His father, Larry, was also a professional footballer, playing as a midfielder for Okwawu United in the Ghana Premier League. Antoine also holds French citizenship through his mother.
His younger brother, Jai Semenyo, has followed in their footsteps and is also a professional footballer, currently playing in France. In a personal milestone, Antoine proposed to his long-time girlfriend, Jordeen Buckley, on November 18, 2025.
Honours and Accolades
Antoine Semenyo's remarkable journey is underscored by a growing collection of individual awards and team achievements, marking his undeniable impact on the game.
Award Year(s) EFL Cup 2025–26 Premier League Player of the Month February 2026 EFL Championship Player of the Month January 2022 Bristol City Young Player of the Year 2021–22 PFA Premier League Fans’ Player of the Month September 2025 SWAG Foreign Footballer of the Year 2025
Article
Antoine Semenyo
Antoine Selorm Semenyo (born 7 January 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger or wide midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City. Born in England, he plays for the Ghana national team.
Club career
Antoine Semenyo
Semenyo had unsuccessful trials for London clubs Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Millwall. At the age of 15, he was rejected by Crystal Palace after an eight-week trial with the Croydon based club. He initially decided to give up on becoming a professional footballer before Dave Hockaday convinced him to join his youth academy program at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College. Semenyo's development saw Birmingham City, Crystal Palace and Bristol City show interest in signing him. In 2017, he signed for Bristol City's academy.
Early appearances and loans
Semenyo signed his first professional contract in January 2018 and joined Bath City on a short-term loan. He scored six goals from 16 appearances for the National League South club before returning to Bristol City. He made his Bristol City debut on the final day of the 2017–18 season coming on as a second-half substitute for Lloyd Kelly in the 3–2 loss to Sheffield United at Ashton Gate.
On 18 July 2018, Semenyo joined EFL League Two club Newport County on a season-long loan. He made his Newport debut in a 3–0 defeat against Mansfield Town on 4 August 2018 as a second-half substitute and scored his first goal for the club in a 4–1 EFL Cup first round win over Cambridge United. At Newport, he began to play on the wing rather than his original position of striker. On 6 January 2019, he played the full 90 minutes as Newport knocked Premier League club Leicester City out of the FA Cup in the third round with a 2–1 win. He also played the entirety of the 1–1 draw away at EFL Championship side Middlesbrough on 26 January. The following day, he was recalled by Bristol city after making 32 appearances in all competitions for the Welsh club.
Upon his return to Bristol City he was allocated the shirt number 18 and named as a substitute for the EFL Championship match away to Blackburn Rovers on 9 February 2019. On 2 March, he appeared as a 53rd minute substitute for Callum O'Dowda in 1–1 draw with Preston North End and, seven days later, he made his first start for the club in a 1–0 home loss to Leeds United. On 27 April 2019, Semenyo controversially received his first career red card against Derby County for a challenge on Tom Huddlestone. In June 2019, he signed a new four-year contract with the club.
After making eleven appearances for Bristol City, in the first half of the 2019–20 season, Semenyo was linked with a loan move to Sunderland, Doncaster Rovers and a return to Newport County. On the 31 January 2020, Semenyo joined EFL League One club Sunderland on loan for the remainder of the season. He made seven appearances for Sunderland without scoring, making his only start in his final appearance at Bristol Rovers on 10 March 2020. After the season was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned to Bristol City.
First team breakthrough
Semenyo began the 2020–21 by scoring his first goal for Bristol City in an EFL Cup first round tie against Exeter City on 5 September 2020. Eleven days later, he assisted goals for Chris Martin and Kasey Palmer, before scoring himself in a 4–0 win over Northampton Town in the second round of the same competition.
During November 2020, he recorded assists in three consecutive EFL Championship matches against Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City and Derby County. He ended the season having played fifty competitive games, scoring five and assisting seven goals. He was named Bristol City's Young Player of the Year on 10 May 2021.
During the 2021–22 season, Semenyo registered eight goals and twelve assists in 32 games across all competitions. He won the EFL Championship Player of the Month award for January 2022 after scoring three goals and getting three assists.
Semenyo began the 2022–23 season by scoring in a 3–1 EFL Cup first round win over Wycombe Wanderers on 24 August. He followed this up by scoring in his first two EFL Championship appearances of the season, against Blackpool on 27 August and Huddersfield Town on 31 August.
During January 2023, he scored in three consecutive league matches against Coventry City, Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers, as well as an FA Cup third round tie against Swansea City. This form saw reported interest from Premier League clubs Southampton and Crystal Palace, as well as two rejected offers from Bournemouth.
Semenyo playing for Bournemouth in 2025
Bournemouth
On 27 January 2023, Semenyo completed a transfer to Bournemouth worth £10 million on a four-and-a-half-year contract. He made his debut for the club in 1–0 Premier League loss at Brighton & Hove Albion on 4 February and scored his first goal on 30 April 2023 in a 4–1 home win over Leeds United.
On 19 August 2023, Bournemouth's first away match of the 2023–24 Premier League season, Semenyo gave the team a 1–0 lead over Liverpool at Anfield to register his second goal for the club. On 28 October, he scored in Bournemouth's first league win of the season and first under Andoni Iraola as they beat Burnley 2–1 in matchday 10 of the Premier League. He ended his first full Premier League season with eight goals and two assists from 33 appearances.
On 8 July 2024, he signed a new contract with the club until 2029. Semenyo began the 2024–25 season by scoring an 86th-minute equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Nottingham Forest on 17 August. Two weeks later he scored Bournemouth's first goal of a 3–2 comeback win over Everton at Goodison Park. On 2 November 2024, he scored in Bournemouth's 2–1 win over Premier League champions Manchester City at Dean Court, ending City's eleven-month unbeaten run in the competition. His fifth goal of the season came in a 3–0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on 22 December.
On 25 January 2025, he scored the fifth goal of Bournemouth's 5–0 win over Nottingham Forest, extending the club's unbeaten run in the Premier League to eleven matches. On 14 April, Semenyo scored his tenth goal of the season to give Bournemouth a 1–0 win over Fulham and end their run of six matches without a Premier League win. His goal came after 53 seconds of the match, making it Bournemouth's third-fastest Premier League goal. On 25 May, Semenyo scored both goals in a 2–0 win over Leicester City to end the season with a personal best eleven Premier League goals.
On 1 July 2025, Semenyo signed a contract extension at Bournemouth until 2030.
On 15 August, Semenyo scored two goals away against Liverpool in the opening match of the 2025–26 Premier League season. His goals came in the 64th and 76th minutes to tie the match at 2–2 after Bournemouth had trailed 2–0 to the league champions, however, the match ended in a 4–2 defeat with Liverpool scoring two late goals. He continued his strong start to the season with goals against Brighton and Hove Albion and Leeds United in September, before scoring two goals and assisting Justin Kluivert in a 3–1 win over Fulham on 3 October, taking him to six goals from the opening seven Premier League matches.
After going seven matches without scoring, Semenyo scored in a 4–4 draw with Manchester United on 15 December. He followed this up with goals against Burnley and Brentford in Bournemouth's next two matches.
On 7 January 2026, having been strongly linked with a move to Manchester City in the January transfer window, Semenyo scored in his final game for Bournemouth; a last-minute winner in a 3–2 win against Tottenham Hotspur at Vitality Stadium, ending the Cherries' eleven-match run without a win.
Manchester City
On 9 January 2026, Manchester City announced that Semenyo has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract for £64m. A day later, he made his debut, scoring a goal and assisting another one in a 10–1 victory over Exeter City in the FA Cup. Three days later, he scored the opening goal of a 2–0 away win in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final against Newcastle United, a tie City went on to win 5–1 on aggregate to qualify for the 2026 EFL Cup final.
On 24 January, he scored his first Premier League goal for City, in a 2–0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
On 22 March, he featured in Manchester City's 2-0 win over Arsenal to claim the 2025-26 EFL Cup.
International career
Antoine Semenyo
He was called up to the Ghana national team on 26 May 2022 and made his debut for the Black Stars in a 3–0 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification win over Madagascar on 1 June.
On 14 November 2022, Semenyo was included in Ghana's 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He scored his first international goal in the team's final warm-up match for the tournament, a 2–0 win over Switzerland on 17 November. At the tournament finals, he made two substitute appearances in the group matches against Portugal and Uruguay.
Semenyo's first competitive goal for Ghana came in the sixth minute of stoppage time in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola on 23 March 2023, giving the Black Stars a 1–0 win.
In January 2024, he was named in Ghana's squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He started all three group matches at the tournament as Ghana were eliminated with two draws and a loss.
Personal life
Antoine Semenyo
Semenyo's father, Larry, is a former footballer, having played as a midfielder for Okwawu United in the Ghana Premier League. Antoine also holds French citizenship from his mother.
Semenyo's younger brother Jai is also a professional footballer, currently at Championnat National 2 side FC Lorient B.
On 18 November 2025, Semenyo proposed to his long-time girlfriend, Jordeen Buckley.
Career statistics
Club
<table><thead><tr><th>Club</th><th>Season</th><th>League</th><th>FA Cup</th><th>EFL Cup</th><th>Europe</th><th>Other</th><th>Total</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Division</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td></tr><tr><td>Bristol City</td><td>2017–18</td><td>Championship</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>1</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>2018–19</td><td>Championship</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>4</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>2019–20</td><td>Championship</td><td>9</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>11</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>2020–21</td><td>Championship</td><td>44</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>50</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>2021–22</td><td>Championship</td><td>31</td><td>8</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>32</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>2022–23</td><td>Championship</td><td>23</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>27</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>112</td><td>16</td><td>7</td><td>2</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>125</td><td>21</td></tr><tr><td>Bath City (loan)</td><td>2017–18</td><td>National League South</td><td>14</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>16</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Newport County (loan)</td><td>2018–19</td><td>League Two</td><td>21</td><td>3</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>—</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>32</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Sunderland (loan)</td><td>2019–20</td><td>League One</td><td>7</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>7</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Bournemouth</td><td>2022–23</td><td>Premier League</td><td>11</td><td>1</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>11</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>2023–24</td><td>Premier League</td><td>33</td><td>8</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>36</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>2024–25</td><td>Premier League</td><td>37</td><td>11</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>42</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>2025–26</td><td>Premier League</td><td>20</td><td>10</td><td>—</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>21</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>101</td><td>30</td><td>5</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>110</td><td>32</td></tr><tr><td>Manchester City</td><td>2025–26</td><td>Premier League</td><td>9</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>17</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Career total</td><td>264</td><td>57</td><td>20</td><td>5</td><td>14</td><td>5</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>6</td><td>5</td><td>307</td><td>72</td></tr></tbody></table>
International
<table><thead><tr><th>National team</th><th>Year</th><th>Apps</th><th>Goals</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Ghana</td><td>2022</td><td>6</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>8</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>11</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>7</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>32</td><td>3</td></tr></tbody></table>
Scores and results list Ghana's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Semenyo goal.
<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Date</th><th>Venue</th><th>Opponent</th><th>Score</th><th>Result</th><th>Competition</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>17 November 2022</td><td>Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates</td><td> Switzerland</td><td>2–0</td><td>2–0</td><td>Friendly</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>23 March 2023</td><td>Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana</td><td> Angola</td><td>1–0</td><td>1–0</td><td>2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>21 March 2025</td><td>Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana</td><td> Chad</td><td>1–0</td><td>5–0</td><td>2026 FIFA World Cup qualification</td></tr></tbody></table>
Honours
Antoine Semenyo
• EFL Cup: 2025–26
• Premier League Player of the Month: February 2026 • EFL Championship Player of the Month: January 2022 • Bristol City Young Player of the Year: 2021–22 • PFA Premier League Fans’ Player of the Month: September 2025 • SWAG Foreign Footballer of the Year: 2025