Antoine Semenyo transfer news: Chelsea make enquiry for Bournemouth forward amid interest from Liverpool, Man Utd and Man City
Chelsea join Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool in the chase for Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo; the Blues are looking at the conditions of a possible deal; Tottenham had also been interested in the 25-year-old but have pulled out; Semenyo has scored in his last two games
Tuesday 23 December 2025 14:29, UK
Chelsea have made an enquiry about signing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo in January.
The Blues are looking at the conditions of a possible deal and are one of many interested clubs.
Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool are the others, with Semenyo having a £65m release clause in his contract which becomes active on January 1.
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Man Utd and Man City are still ahead of other clubs and remain neck-and-neck for his signature.
Ruben Amorim described Semenyo as a "special player" ahead of the game against Bournemouth, in which the Ghana international scored in a 4-4 draw.
But Liverpool remain interested and are understood to be considering their options in the wake of Alexander Isak's injury.
Spurs were interested in the Bournemouth forward over the summer and earlier this season, but are moving on to other targets and are out of the race.
Semenyo, 25, has scored eight Premier League goals this season, including in Bournemouth's last two games.
'It's up to Semenyo where he wants to go'
Analysis from Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol:
"Antoine Semenyo is going to have a choice of which club he signs for. It's up to him where he wants to go.
"What's really interesting is what Liverpool decide to do - they don't like getting into a bidding war with clubs.
"Different clubs are going to be offering different personal terms and contracts. Will he want to work with Pep Guardiola? Ruben Amorim? Or will Chelsea follow up this enquiry?
"We don't usually see this kind of deal in January, but he's such a good player, and the release clause is pretty reasonable.
"Bournemouth have been aware for a long time that Semenyo may move and one of the conditions of signing his new deal was this release clause.
"But they have been very savvy including the clause to end in the middle of January so this doesn't drag out until the end of the window."
Iraola: There are things happening outside our control
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola on Semenyo's future:
"Antoine Semenyo right now is with us. He's playing very well. My concern is that it doesn't affect him. He's played very well, he's committed to the team and I hope we can keep him. There are things happening out of our control.
"Antoine has been performing very well. The level of consistency has been very good since the beginning of the season. He's very valuable for us - not just the numbers, but a lot of things.
"You never know what is going to happen. In the summer there were a lot of movements. I don't know what's going to happen in the winter movements.
"At the end, you sign a contract and understand that both parties are happy. I hope we don't lose him, but I don't know, I can't control what's going to happen."
Semenyo's Bournemouth team-mate, Justin Kluivert, also told Sky Sports News: "He's showed how good he is. He's a top player. He's one of the best attacking players in the Premier League.
"He doesn't let it get to his head, which is a very positive aspect. We speak about all these things that are coming to him and he stays down to earth. He gives Bournemouth 100 per cent every day and that says a lot about him."
Carragher: Semenyo could be good way around Isak injury
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher on how Liverpool deal with Alexander Isak's injury:
"One thing for certain now, Mo Salah will be staying at the club. There's a good chance Harvey Elliott would come back from Aston Villa as well.
"Whether Liverpool go for a striker or another attacking player like Semenyo, who Liverpool have been heavily linked with as well, we all know he's got a buyout clause in January.
"Then you've got wide players, as in Salah and Gakpo, who've played a lot of games through the middle as well. You've got young Jayden Danns.
"That's the way they could go around it because I don't think Liverpool, when you go back a few years when they had a real problem at centre-back, they didn't go and spend big money on someone they didn't want.
"They won't go out and buy a striker who they don't really want. If they do want Semenyo, that's probably a good way around it."
