Manchester City have completed the signing of Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo from AFC Bournemouth in a deal worth an initial £62.5 million ($84 million), with up to £1.5 million in add-ons, making it the highest transfer fee ever received by the Cherries.
The 26-year-old has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract until June 2031, beating competition from Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham to join Pep Guardiola’s side. City negotiated the fee outside Semenyo’s £65m release clause, securing better payment terms over 24 months and a 10% sell-on clause for Bournemouth.
Semenyo, who turned 26 on January 7, scored 10 Premier League goals in 20 appearances this season for Bournemouth, including a dramatic last-minute winner against Tottenham in his final match. He departs the south-coast club after 32 goals and 13 assists in 110 appearances since joining from Bristol City in January 2023 for £10m.
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City director of football Hugo Viana hailed Semenyo as “one of the most exciting signings,” praising his two-footedness, pace, power, and Premier League experience. Guardiola confirmed the player will be in the squad for Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Exeter, with a potential Premier League debut against Manchester United looming.
The transfer takes City’s spending in the last 12 months to over £425 million across 14 players, as they aim to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal (six points ahead).
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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