Antoine Semenyo joins Man City: Bournemouth forward signs in £64m transfer to take City spending over £425m in 12 months
Antoine Semenyo signs for Man City on a five-and-a-half-year contract from Bournemouth for £64m; Man City have spent £425.9m in 12 months on 14 new players; Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham were interested in Semenyo; Bournemouth to receive guaranteed fee of £62.5m
Friday 9 January 2026 13:06, UK
Manchester City have signed Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in a £64m deal.
The forward joins Pep Guardiola's side on a five-and-a-half-year contract, taking City's transfer spend in the last 12 months to £425.9m on 14 players.
The Ghana international, who will wear the No 42 shirt, said: "My best football is yet to come, I am sure of that. And City are in a great position - still involved in four competitions. I really feel I can help them have a strong second half of the season."
Guardiola confirmed Semenyo will be in the match-day squad for Saturday's FA Cup tie against Exeter.
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City beat off competition from rivals Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham to sign the 26-year-old.
Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana revealed: "He [Semenyo] made it clear to us immediately that it was City he wanted to join. His enthusiasm for this football club has been clear throughout this process."
City agreed a deal with Bournemouth outside of Semenyo's £65m release clause at £62.5m, plus performance-related bonuses worth £1.5m and a 10 per cent sell-on clause.
The guaranteed part of the release clause was £60m, but the fee Bournemouth will now receive is slightly more at £62.5m over 24-month instalments.
The release clause has meant Bournemouth kept Semenyo for an extra six months after interest in the summer, with the sale higher than any of the offers they received at that time.
Semenyo scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner in his final Bournemouth game to clinch a 3-2 home victory over Spurs on Wednesday before having his City medical on Thursday.
Championship club Bristol City are due 20 per cent of any profit made on Semenyo, having left to join Bournemouth in January 2023 for around £10m.
Semenyo's departure means Bournemouth have earned £266.5m in player sales in the last six months following the significant departures of Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid (£50m), Milos Kerkez to Liverpool (£40m), Illia Zabarnyi to Paris Saint-Germain (£57m) and Dango Ouattara to Brentford (£42m).
Semenyo: It's a real privilege to join City
Semenyo departs Bournemouth having scored 10 goals and provided three assists in the Premier League this season.
Semenyo said: "I am so proud to have joined Manchester City. I have watched City over the last decade under Pep Guardiola, and they have been the dominant team in the Premier League as well as achieving amazing things in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.
"They have set the highest of standards and it's a club with world-class players, world-class facilities and one of the greatest managers ever in Pep.
"I have so much scope for improvement, so to be at this club, at this stage of my career, is perfect for me. It's a real privilege to be here.
"The Etihad is my new home. I can't wait to play in front of the fans here and I hope to show everyone what I can do."
Meanwhile, Viana revealed the ex-Bristol City forward "was the one we most wanted".
The Portuguese chief said: "He has huge quality. Two great feet, pace, power, a habit of influencing games and, importantly, real room for growth and development. I am excited to see the player Antoine can become in the weeks, months and years ahead.
"We are constantly watching players all over the world. Antoine was the one we most wanted. He has shown he can perform in the Premier League. He is humble, hard-working, professional and totally focused on being a better footballer. He is ideal for us."
Guardiola: Many clubs wanted Semenyo - but he chose us!
Guardiola praised the "extraordinary" quality Semenyo will bring to the team ahead of the forward potentially making his debut against Exeter.
"Everybody knows his quality," he said in his pre-match press conference. "He plays extraordinarily in Bournemouth on both sides and can use both legs unbelievably.
"He knows the Premier League and many clubs wanted him but he decided to join us. I am pleased."
On whether Semenyo be involved against Exeter, despite only signing one day before, Guardiola added: "Yeah [Semenyo will be in the squad]. I don't know if he will start or not but he will be selected. Will be selected for sure.
"We don't have too many players. He will adapt quick because the group is exceptional."
Man City's spending at a glance
Manchester City have spent £1.75bn since the start of the 2016/17 season.
Man City signings in the last 12 months
January 2025 - £176.1m
Abdukodir Khusanov - Lens, £33.5m
Vitor Reis - Palmeiras, £29.6m
Omar Marmoush - Eintracht Frankfurt, £63.2m
Christian McFarlane - New York City, undisclosed
Juma Bah - Real Valladolid, undisclosed
Summer 2025 - £185.8m
Tijjani Reijnders - AC Milan, £46.3m
Rayan Ait Nouri - Wolves, £36m
Marcus Bettinelli - Chelsea, undisclosed
Rayan Cherki - Lyon, £34m
Sverre Nypan - Rosenborg, £12.5m
James Trafford - Burnley, £31m
Gianluigi Donnarumma - PSG, £26m
January 2026 - £64m
Antoine Semenyo - Bournemouth, £64m
