Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City for £65m; Documents Exchanged and Sealed

Antoine Semenyo is on the verge of completing his transfer to Manchester City after a deal in principle was formally agreed with Bournemouth. The Ghana international winger is set to undergo his medical examination on Thursday following Bournemouth’s Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night. Documents have been exchanged and sealed between the clubs, with the transfer involving a £65 million release clause activation.

Transfer Details and Timeline

Semenyo is set to have a medical with Manchester City on Thursday ahead of his £65m move, with formal steps expected to progress after Bournemouth play Tottenham on Wednesday night. The release clause expires on Friday, making the timing critical for Manchester City to complete their pursuit of the Bournemouth winger.

Semenyo is expected to make his final appearance for Bournemouth before joining Manchester City when the Cherries host Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night, with a medical reportedly booked for the following day. Upon completion of his medical and contract finalization, Semenyo will sign a long-term deal with the Premier League champions.

Player Profile and Performance

Semenyo is the Premier League’s joint-third top scorer with only Haaland having more goal involvements than Semenyo this season, with underlying numbers equally impressive. The 25-year-old has been instrumental to Bournemouth’s success this campaign, combining goal-scoring prowess with creative contributions.

Transfer Competition and Manchester City’s Advantage

Manchester City were the only club to contact Bournemouth about Semenyo’s release clause despite interest from Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea before Christmas, with Chelsea opting not to pursue things any further after making an inquiry and Spurs also moving on to other targets.

Contract and Financial Terms

Semenyo will sign a long-term contract with Manchester City upon completion of his medical examination. The exact duration and wages of the contract have not been publicly disclosed, but reports indicate City have moved swiftly to secure the winger’s services following the activation of his £65 million release clause.

Bournemouth will benefit from a significant profit on the transaction, having purchased Semenyo from Bristol City for approximately £10 million in January 2023. Less than two years later, Manchester City are prepared to activate his £65m release clause in what represents a significant profit for the south coast club.

Bournemouth’s Position and Replacement Plans

Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola has acknowledged the reality of Semenyo’s situation while remaining diplomatically optimistic. Iraola told Sky Sports that Antoine is performing very well and he is expecting him to be available in the next game, hoping he continues playing the same way, noting there is a lot of noise around him but his worry as a coach is that Semenyo can keep up his performance level.

The club has already begun identifying replacement options, with Brennan Johnson of Tottenham being explored as a potential successor. Johnson could be set to move to Crystal Palace after they agreed a £35 million fee with Tottenham, though Johnson has not yet made his final decision.

Manchester City’s Attacking Additions

Manchester City are understood to want to keep Savinho and Omar Marmoush, even if they sign Semenyo, despite widespread reports casting doubt on their futures amid City’s pursuit of the Bournemouth winger. The addition of Semenyo further bolsters Pep Guardiola’s attacking options alongside established wingers Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden.

Release Clause Details

The release clause is understood to be active from January 1 to January 10, 2026, creating a finite window for interested clubs to activate the provision.

Manchester City have moved decisively within this timeframe to secure the deal, demonstrating their commitment to the signing and superior organizational efficiency compared to rival clubs.

Potential Debut Timeline

If the transfer is finalized before the weekend, Semenyo could potentially be eligible for Manchester City’s FA Cup third-round fixture against Exeter City on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium, though squad integration and registration procedures may extend his availability timeline.

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