Manchester City are edging closer to completing a £65 million deal to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth, with negotiations between the clubs now at an advanced stage as the January transfer window approaches.
The Premier League champions have moved decisively over the past 48 hours, agreeing to meet the release clause in the forward’s contract and holding productive discussions with both Bournemouth and the player’s representatives. While nothing has been formally signed yet, sources indicate the final details are being resolved, with confidence on all sides that a full agreement is close.
For Pep Guardiola, this potential signing represents another calculated addition to an already formidable squad. For Antoine Semenyo, it would mark the biggest step yet in a career that has gathered remarkable momentum over the past two seasons.
City accelerate talks as January window looms
The timing of Manchester City’s move is no accident. With the January transfer window opening on Thursday, the club have pushed hard to ensure the framework of the deal is in place before rival interest can develop into concrete bids.
City have already agreed to activate the £65m release clause written into Semenyo’s contract, a figure that reflects both his age and his rapid development into one of the Premier League’s most explosive attacking threats. Representatives of the player were in Manchester earlier this week, where discussions over personal terms progressed smoothly.
Talks continued into Tuesday, with optimism growing that the final structure of payments and clauses can be agreed swiftly. While a medical has not yet taken place, all parties are said to be aligned on the direction of travel.
For City, moving early removes uncertainty and allows Guardiola to integrate the Ghana international into his squad as quickly as possible during a demanding second half of the season.
Bournemouth balancing ambition and reality
From Bournemouth’s perspective, the situation is delicate. Losing a player of Semenyo’s influence mid-season is far from ideal, especially with crucial fixtures on the horizon. However, the club have long accepted that the release clause in his deal made a January exit a realistic possibility.
Sources close to the club suggest Bournemouth would ideally like the forward to remain available for their upcoming matches against Arsenal and Tottenham before the release mechanism expires on 10 January. There is a belief internally that his involvement in those games could be decisive, particularly given the congested festive schedule.
That said, Semenyo himself has been keen to resolve his future by 1 January. While he remains fully committed when selected, there is an understanding that once personal terms are finalised, attention will inevitably shift towards his next chapter.
The Cherries are now weighing up whether to push for his continued involvement in the short term or prioritise a clean and orderly transfer that allows them to reinvest swiftly.
Why Guardiola wants Semenyo
The appeal of Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City is multifaceted. At 25, he fits neatly into the club’s recruitment profile, offering peak years ahead while already possessing significant Premier League experience.
Physically powerful, direct in possession and relentless out of it, Semenyo provides qualities that complement City’s existing attacking options. He is comfortable operating across the front line, capable of stretching defences from wide positions or driving centrally with pace and intent.
Crucially, his work rate without the ball has stood out. In a City side that demands tactical discipline and defensive responsibility from its forwards, this attribute has been a major factor in Guardiola’s admiration.
While not yet a prolific scorer on the level of City’s elite attackers, his underlying numbers and consistent end product at Bournemouth suggest a player ready to make the leap into an elite environment.
Competition backed away as City take control
Interest in Semenyo has been widespread. Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham have all made informal enquiries in recent months, while Liverpool have continued to monitor his situation closely.
However, despite this crowded field, Manchester City have been the only club to make formal contact with Bournemouth and take concrete steps towards activating the release clause. That decisiveness has proved crucial.
Unless Liverpool or another rival launch a dramatic late intervention, all indications point towards City completing the deal without serious competition. The clarity of City’s proposal and their willingness to move quickly have given them a commanding position in the race.
For Semenyo, the appeal of working under Guardiola and competing for major honours has been difficult to ignore.
A defining move for Semenyo’s career
This transfer represents far more than a financial milestone for Antoine Semenyo. It is the culmination of a journey that has required patience, resilience and steady improvement at each stage.
Since arriving at Bournemouth, he has developed into a key attacking figure, trusted to lead the line or operate from wide areas against some of the league’s strongest defences. His performances have not only delivered goals and assists but also set the tone with aggression and intensity.
A move to Manchester City would test him at the highest possible level, where competition for places is fierce and margins for error are minimal. Yet those close to the player believe he is ready for that challenge, both mentally and physically.
City’s coaching staff are understood to see significant untapped potential, particularly in his decision-making in the final third and his ability to thrive in possession-dominant systems.
What happens next
While a full agreement is said to be close, the final timeline remains dependent on a handful of outstanding details. Whether Semenyo features again for Bournemouth before the deal is officially completed is still uncertain.
Should the transfer be finalised swiftly after the window opens, Manchester City will aim to have him available as soon as possible, potentially in time for key domestic and European fixtures later in January.
For now, all signs point towards a significant January statement from the champions. If completed, the £65m capture of Antoine Semenyo would underline City’s intent to strengthen from a position of power and ensure their squad remains equipped for another sustained title push.
As the window opens, this is one deal that looks increasingly inevitable rather than speculative.