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Liverpool are among the clubs linked with AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo amid a £65 million release clause in the January transfer window.
Antoine Semenyo’s release clause may have to be activated in the early stages of the January transfer window, reports suggest.
The AFC Bournemouth forward looks set to be in demand when clubs are again able to conduct business in just more than a month’s time. Semenyo has enjoyed a superb start to the 2025-26 season, having produced six goals and three assists in nine Premier League games so far.
The Ghana international signed a new contract at Bournemouth last summer. But installed in the deal is a release clause of £65 million that is active in January, while the figure drops to closer to £50 million in the summer of 2026.
What’s been said
However, Bournemouth have started drawing up a contingency plan should Semenyo depart the Vitality Stadium in January. Speaking on NBC Sports, Ornstein said: “It is available in January but only for a set period. I would imagine with these sort of things, 10 days, just over a week and that will give Bournemouth two weeks to find a replacement if he indeed does go, which they hope he doesn't.
“It is available to all clubs. Some had suggested it was a certain number of teams but that is not the case and it becomes active again in the summer at a lower fee. It will be interesting if it gets that far.
“Interested clubs are said to be Liverpool, Man City, Tottenham - who were keen last summer as were Manchester United. They were quoted around £70 million. Their interest is ongoing but I don't know if they will be activating it at this moment.
“We're not sure of the player's preference right now. I'm sure he will assess the options and see if anything will materialise into a transfer. They [Bournemouth] have lost players yet have still gone on to progress and rise as a club and will be confident of doing so again if Semenyo leaves. I understand they are working on targets for that eventuality, so are taking a pragmatic and professional approach to the eventuality of him going but they hope to keep him.”
Iraola on Semenyo’s future
Semenyo has made eye-catching progress since signing for Bournemouth from Bristol City for £10 million in January 2023. Under head coach Andoni Iraola’s guidance, the 25-year-old has become one of the premium attackers in England.
Iraola was asked about Semenyo’s release clause before Bournemouth’s 2-2 draw against West Ham last weekend. The Cherries boss said: “It's something that especially you know that I hate to talk about in August, January, the moments when the market is open, but it is not one of those moments. It's November.
"I'm more worried about the situation of the players to play tomorrow, the short-term, the things that really matter and in January, we will talk about whatever happens, the players we need. But it is not something that I'm worried about today."
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