What does Guardiola have to do with Man City signing ‘extraordinary’ Semenyo?
From Bristol City to Manchester City in just three years, Antoine Semenyo’s rise to the top of the game has been swift.
Pep Guardiola’s side have completed the signing of the 26-year-old Bournemouth forward after meeting his £65m release clause, beating competition from Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea to secure his signature.
It marks the latest step in a rapid ascent for the London-born Semenyo, who represents Ghana internationally through his father’s heritage, according to the BBC's Emma Smith..
Rejected by Arsenal, Tottenham and Millwall as a youngster, Semenyo eventually found his feet in the West Country at an academy run by former Leeds and Forest Green manager Dave Hockaday.
Bristol City signed him in 2017, but loan spells at Bath City, Newport County and Sunderland followed before he finally broke into the Robins’ first team during the 2020–21 season.
A £10m move to Bournemouth arrived in January 2023, and Semenyo has improved steadily ever since. But why Manchester City, and why now?
Why did Manchester City want Semenyo?
Leaving aside the state of the transfer market, £65m represents a relatively modest fee for a Premier League winger approaching the prime of his career.
It is therefore little surprise that Guardiola and City pushed hard to sign Semenyo, even if his underlying statistics suggest he may not represent a dramatic upgrade on the wide options already available at the Etihad.
Semenyo has created fewer chances per 90 minutes this season than Rayan Cherki or Jeremy Doku, while his dribble success rate is only higher than Savinho’s among City’s recognised wingers.
However, his end product stands out. Semenyo is the league’s third-highest scorer with 10 goals, in addition to three assists.
He boasts a shot accuracy of 55% this season — the second highest among players with five or more Premier League goals — while his goal involvements across the calendar year represent a club record for Bournemouth.
Crucially, his style offers Guardiola something different at a time when City’s pursuit of Premier League leaders Arsenal has stalled following three consecutive draws.
Comfortable with both feet, only Erling Haaland and Jean-Philippe Mateta have attempted more shots than Semenyo this campaign (excluding blocked efforts), while his 76 attempted dribbles rank fourth-highest in the division.
“He can drive forward with the ball vertically, rather than just going in and out,” former England goalkeeper Rob Green told BBC 5 Live.
“He gives Pep something different. With their injury problems, he helps in the short term and the long term.
“It does raise questions about what the future holds for someone like Savinho, though.”
AFCON will not disrupt Semenyo’s availability, with Ghana surprisingly failing to qualify for the tournament.
Guardiola, meanwhile, had already made his admiration clear earlier this season, long before transfer speculation intensified.
“He’s an extraordinary, extraordinary, extraordinary player,” the Spaniard said.
“His energy, his confidence, his movement — unbelievable. He never stops running, attacks space so well, and when he has the ball, you feel something will happen.
“He’s improving every game. Players like him make this league special — always hungry, always brave.”
Former City goalkeeper Shay Given echoed that view on BBC Match of the Day.
“He’s a brilliant, brilliant player,” Given said. “At 26, he’s right in the peak of his career.”
