Image Credits: Imago Images
Manchester City have officially secured the signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in a £64m deal. The 26-year-old has joined Pep Guardiola’s side on a five-and-a-half-year contract.
This has taken City’s transfer spending over the past 12 months to £425.9m across 14 players. City agreed a deal with Bournemouth just below Semenyo’s £65m release clause, paying £62.5m plus performance-related bonuses of £1.5m and a 10% sell-on clause.
The guaranteed portion of the fee was £60m, but Bournemouth will receive the higher £62.5m sum over 24-month installments. The release clause had allowed Bournemouth to retain Semenyo for an extra six months after summer interest, with this sale exceeding all previous offers.
City fended off competition from rivals Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham to land the Ghana international.
Semenyo capped his Bournemouth career with a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Spurs, securing a 3-2 home victory on Wednesday, before undergoing his Manchester City medical on Thursday.
He will be available to feature immediately for City and is also eligible to play in next Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Newcastle.
“I am so proud to have joined Manchester City,” said Semenyo to the club’s media channels.
“I have watched City over the last decade under Pep Guardiola, and they have been the dominant team in the Premier League as well as achieving amazing things in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.”
“They have set the highest of standards and it’s a club with world-class players, world-class facilities and one of the greatest managers ever in Pep.”
“I have so much scope for improvement, so to be at this club, at this stage of my career, is perfect for me. It’s a real privilege to be here.”
“My best football is yet to come, I am sure of that. And City are in a great position – still involved in four competitions. I really feel I can help them have a strong second half of the season.”
“The Etihad is my new home. I can’t wait to play in front of the fans here and I hope to show everyone what I can do.”
Under the terms of a previous agreement, Championship club Bristol City will receive 20% of any profit made on Semenyo, having sold him to Bournemouth in January 2023 for around £10m.
Semenyo’s departure marks yet another significant sale for Bournemouth, who have generated £266.5m in player sales over the past six months.
This follows the exits of Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid (£50m), Milos Kerkez to Liverpool (£40m), Illia Zabarnyi to Paris Saint-Germain (£57m), and Dango Ouattara to Brentford (£42m).
Read more: Marc Guehi to decide on Manchester City move
Former Liverpool man leaves Manchester United after Ruben Amorim sacking
Oliver Glasner issues fresh update on Marc Guehi future
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.