Image Credit: www.afcb.co.uk

9 G/A in 11 games, Antoine Semenyo is the 2nd highest goal contributor currently in the Premier League behind Erling Haaland. The Ghanian forward has been a sensation for AFC Bournemouth since signing for the club back in 2023 at the age of 23-year-old and has seemingly gotten better season after season. The now 25-year-old has been on the radar of many top clubs in the Premier League following his incredible performances last season where Semenyo played nearly every league game for Bournemouth, bar one, managed 11 goals and 5 assists which was crucial for Bournemouth to match their highest ever league position finish (9th place). Antoine Semeyo’s pace, dribbling, dynamic movement, creativity and of course his finishing in front of goal has made the Ghanaian International a joy to watch and including his goal contributions has naturally caught the attention of several clubs.

Even more so now following the breaking news by football correspondent David Ornstein, from TheAthleticFC, stating that AFC Bournemouth maybe “powerless” in preventing Antoine Semenyo from being sold in the upcoming January Transfer Window as the player’s contract includes a £65m release clause that is available to all clubs however the clause must be triggered at a set date to allow Bournemouth enough time find a suitable replacement. It is further stated that the clause will be active again in the Summer Transfer Window but at a lower fee and well-known football journalist Fabrizio Romano broke down about the situation regarding Semenyo’s contract in more detail in his recent YouTube video.

Antoine Semenyo’s release clause will be active in January 2026

The January release clause fee will be a guaranteed £60m + £5m in add-ons.

The Summer Transfer release clause fee will be slightly above £50m

Antoine Semenyo signed a new 5-year deal contract in the summer of 2025 to ward off any clubs interested in the exciting forward however it seems the new deal was also put in place to guarantee a specific fee should Bournemouth’s talisman forward consider offers from other clubs as well as also guarantee time for the club to find a replacement. There are clubs are quite a few top clubs currently who could use a profile like Semenyo in their teams to keep boost their attacking threat, here are some Premier League clubs who could sign Semenyo and why:

Liverpool

Liverpool’s priority to sign strikers and their failure to sign new wingers to replace the now, Bayern Munich player, Luis Diaz as well as finding a younger successor to Mohamed Salah has cost them dearly this season. New strikers Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak have so far failed to live up to their hefty price tags as well as Liverpool almost look like they are out of attacking ideas when Mohamed Salah is not in red hot form. Liverpool manager Arne Slot also does not seem to consider Federico Chiesa as a starter on the either wing ahead of Salah or Cody Gakpo so the prefect solution would be pacey, creative and attack-minded winger like Antoine Semenyo. Semenyo is a versatile player that primarily plays on the Left Wing however he can also on the Right Wing and can be utilised as a striker which is the type of profile that clubs like Liverpool love to have. Liverpool signing Semenyo would almost make him an immediate starter on the Left Wing and could make a reliable alternative to Mo Salah down the Right Wing. Antoine Semenyo is a player that is also known for creating chances and not just scoring them which could exactly be what Ekitike and Isak need, a winger that would offer them enough chances in games to help get the best of them both.

Manchester City

This one is an interesting one considering that Jeremy Doku this season has established himself as Manchester City’s first choice down the Left Wing however Doku does not have any one to challenge him in that area of the pitch as well as Man City do not really have any other else to play in that position should Doku pick up any injuries, suspensions or even just a dip in form. They are players like Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Savinho who can play down the Left Wing however for all of them it is not their natural positions and City did not pay much attention to finding a replacement for Jack Graelish, who is on loan to Everton currently. Antoine Semeyno would be the perfect solution for City as an alternative to Jeremy Doku as both players share quite a few similarities in the way they play. Both players are fast, skilful dribblers, direct and both are very capable to scoring chances as well as creating them. The problem with this option would be for manager Pep Guardiola to manage the minutes of both the wingers as they are both capable starters who should be the first names on the team sheet.

Manchester United

Manchester United are of the clubs that were interested in signing Semenyo in the Summer Transfer Window before the Ghanaian signed a new 5-year deal according to Fabrizio Romano in his latest YouTube video. In the same video Romano goes on to explain that Man Utd are looking for a winger/number 10 type of player that is “electric”, “skilful”, “talented” and “fast”. All those characteristics kind of remind you of Antoine Semenyo, doesn’t it? He ticks all the boxes of what Manchester United are currently looking for and with his release clause being £65m in January, it is the kind of deal Man Utd would go for in recent times following their new ownership. Recently in an interview with TheUnitedStand, Football Correspondent Ben Jacobs was quoted saying that: “There is nothing financially that would stop Manchester United in January from doing a deal for Semenyo.” And he further went to say that Man Utd are still interested in Semenyo especially since he is a winger and is the type of winger profile Man Utd are looking for following the success of Bryan Mbeumo so far.

Tottenham Hotspur

It was well documented over the Summer Transfer Window that manager Thomas Frank wanted to sign another winger following the signing of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United, Savinho was the target from most of the transfer window leading up to deadline but Man City’s higher ups remained firm in their decision to keep Savinho despite the player’s desire to join Tottenham. The search for a new winger may continue following the growing injury list Tottenham have been racking up this season as well as the constant rotation on the Left Wing position of Tottenham’s team. Xavi Simons, Richarlison and Wilson Odobert have been deputised to play in that position however nobody has made that position their own. Once again a player like Antoine Semenyo would be a perfect solution for a club like Tottenham. Unlike the other previously mentioned clubs where Semenyo could a starter, at Tottenham Semenyo would most definitely and would immediately establish himself as Tottenham’s first choice in that Left Winger position just like how Mohammed Kudus has done playing on the Right Wing.

Arsenal

Arsenal fans might be very happy to hear this that in a recent interview, BR Football reported asking Antoine Semenyo which stadium ground was his favourite to play in and his answer was: “Emirates. I’m not going to go into the reasons.” There was also another interview from 2024 with the Athletic that has resurfaced which saw Antonie Semenyo openly admit to being an Arsenal fan: “I am an Arsenal fan, I don't conflict the two with my job.” “It is great to play against Arsenal, a team I have watched all my life and I want to play for the top clubs as well. In order for that to happen, I need to prove it.” All of this information might excite some Arsenal fans as just like every other club mentioned, they are in the market for a new winger and more specifically a left winger. Arsenal have made a great start to the season and have a really strong squad however everybody can agree that the one area Arsenal need to address is the Left Wing. Every other position has natural starters apart from the Left Wing which has been a constant rotation of Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and occasionally Noni Madueke. Similarly to their London rivals Tottenham, Arsenal also have a bit of an injury crisis especially to their forwards options which is why a player Semenyo would be a perfect solution. His directness, skill and pace fits Arsenal’s style of play perfectly. With the additions that Semenyo is a childhood Arsenal fan, Antonine Semenyo and Arsenal seem like a match made in heaven and it honestly be interesting to see where Semenyo will be by the end of the January Transfer Window.

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