Semenyo’s Desire for Trophies Fuels Move to Manchester City
Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has expressed his strong preference to join Manchester City in January, driven by his desire to win trophies with Pep Guardiola’s side. However, no official agreement has been reached yet, as the January transfer window is still a week away.
Reports suggest that Chelsea has decided not to pursue the 25-year-old forward after an initial enquiry, and while Manchester United showed interest, a January move for Semenyo was always considered unlikely. The club was only interested in bringing in players who were eager to join, with no intention of using Semenyo as a wing-back, despite Ruben Amorim’s system. Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool also had their eyes on Semenyo, with Liverpool being one of several clubs admiring the forward.
Semenyo’s Strong Season and Release Clause Set for January Transfer
Semenyo has been in excellent form during the 2025-26 campaign, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in 16 Premier League appearances. His contract with Bournemouth, which runs until 2030, includes a £65million release clause that can be activated in January. This clause, which The Athletic reported on November 17, must be triggered by a specific date, giving Bournemouth a couple of weeks to replace their star player. If Semenyo stays with Bournemouth in January, the release clause will again be available during the subsequent transfer window, but at an even lower price.
Bournemouth had a busy summer transfer window in 2024, selling several key players, including centre-back Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid for £50million, left-back Milos Kerkez, and winger Dango Ouattara. Semenyo, who joined Bournemouth from Bristol City in January 2023, has made 106 appearances for the club, scoring 30 goals and providing 13 assists.
