**Manchester City have now reached an agreement in principle with Bournemouth over the transfer of Antoine Semenyo, it is being reported.**
The development marks a decisive breakthrough in a pursuit that has gathered pace over the past week, with Manchester City moving aggressively to secure one of their primary January targets.
As has been consistently reported throughout, Pep Guardiola has been keen to add a winger capable of contributing goals from wide areas, with Antoine Semenyo emerging as a leading candidate fitting that specific profile.
Manchester City’s interest has been driven at senior level, with sporting director Hugo Viana heavily involved and Guardiola himself believed to be a strong advocate of the move, while the Ghanaian’s blend of physicality, direct running and end product has been viewed as a contrast to existing wide options.
For Bournemouth, the expectation of losing Semenyo has steadily grown despite Andoni Iraola’s repeated stance that he wanted to retain the forward for as long as possible. While the Cherries explored the possibility of keeping the player for more of their upcoming fixtures, the presence of a clearly defined release clause has always meant the club’s control was limited.
Now, according to the reporting of [Ben Jacobs and Alex Crook](https://x.com/JacobsBen/status/2006851688079200323?s=20), Antoine Semenyo’s transfer from Bournemouth to Manchester City is agreed in principle, with the two clubs in the process of drafting paperwork.
It is further detailed that clarity on the Ghanaian international forward’s specific move date to the Etihad Stadium can be expected in the next 24 hours.
Alongside the club-to-club agreement, Antoine Semenyo is believed to have reached an agreement on personal terms with Manchester City, with previous reports indicating the forward has committed to a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.
That deal is believed to reflect Manchester City’s intention to view the 25-year-old not as a short-term solution, but as a core attacking option for multiple seasons under Guardiola, with the deal featuring a salary package worth around £150,000-a-week, according to reports.
BBC Sport had previously outlined that Semenyo’s decision was driven primarily by the sporting project on offer, with the opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola, compete for major honours, and play at the highest level cited as decisive factors.
Attention now turns to the final procedural steps, including the timing of Antoine Semenyo’s arrival and whether Bournemouth succeed in keeping him involved for any further matches before the move is completed – particularly their upcoming meeting against Arsenal.