Antoine Semenyo transfer news: Man City close to full agreement with Bournemouth over forward's £65m release clause

30.12.2025, 16:27 skysports.com

Manchester City are closing in on a full agreement to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.

Talks have progressed quickly in the past 24 hours and have now reached the advanced stages.

The final details of his £65m release clause are being sorted between the clubs, while City are also understood to be close to finalising personal terms with the winger.

But there is no rush to conclude the deal, with no other club expected to intervene at this late stage and his release clause not active until Thursday when the transfer window opens.

City are the only club to have contacted Bournemouth so far about the release clause, which is believed to be active from January 1 to January 10.

This is despite interest from Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea before Christmas. Chelsea opted not to pursue things any further after making an enquiry, with Spurs also moving on to other targets.

Semenyo is also in the Bournemouth squad for their trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports.

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It has also not yet been ruled out that he will be in the squad on Saturday when Bournemouth host Arsenal.

Semenyo's representatives were in Manchester on Monday discussing personal terms with City, while positive talks took place simultaneously between the clubs.

The search for Semenyo's replacement is now ramping up at Bournemouth, but Brennan Johnson, who they are interested in, could be set to move to Crystal Palace after they agreed a £35m fee with Tottenham. Johnson has not yet made his final decision.

Borussia Dortmund are among several clubs interested in Manchester City winger Oscar Bobb.

The winger could leave in January if the deal for Semenyo gets over the line. If he is to leave, it is expected to be initially on loan with any permanent transfer to be discussed.

Sky Sports News understands City want to keep Savinho and Omar Marmoush, even if they sign Semenyo.

Pep Guardiola has ruled out back-up goalkeeper James Trafford leaving in January despite the England international becoming unsettled over his role with Gianluigi Donnarumma the clear first-choice, but City are open to Stefan Ortega leaving.

Long-term, City are also looking at central midfield cover for Tijjani Reijnders, with Mateo Kovacic injured and Bernardo Silva out of contract in the summer.

Right-back was an area City looked at in the summer but the impressive performances of Matheus Nunes in that position have knocked that down the priority list. Tino Livramento has been a long-term target, but Newcastle have no plans to let him go.

City are one of the clubs with an interest in signing Marc Guehi on a free transfer next summer, with John Stones in the final year of his contract, plus Nathan Ake soon turning 31.

Analysis by Sky Sports' Ron Walker:

For all of Antoine Semenyo's top-level suitors he would prove an alluring purchase: An oven-ready, two-footed player proven in the Premier League, about to enter his prime years and available for what is, in this day and age, a cut-price fee.

What he offers Man City specifically is the answer to the growing problem of an over-reliance on Erling Haaland's goals.

Since the start of last season, Haaland has contributed a higher percentage of goals for his club than any other player in the Premier League. There are worse problems to have while he continues to score for fun. But what about a drop off in form, an injury or a suspension?

When fit, Haaland is not being unseated or about to welcome a strike partner, so if Pep Guardiola is to ease the load it will have to come from elsewhere.

There are few better solutions on current form than Semenyo, the Premier League's joint-third top scorer.

City already have wingers to fit the more direct style they have adopted in Jeremy Doku and Savinho, but neither has anywhere near the end product of the Bournemouth man.

Of City's players only Haaland has more goal involvements than Semenyo this season, whose underlying numbers are equally impressive.

In open play, he is finishing off a higher percentage of his chances than the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jarrod Bowen.

Without the ball, he is also clearly capable of fulfilling Guardiola's high demands. No forward has tracked back or made more recoveries than Semenyo this season, according to Opta.

Of course, Semenyo's minutes will be limited given the wealth of attacking talent in Man City's squad already, and Rayan Cherki in particular firing in recent weeks. But there is no doubt he has the quality to make a significant contribution to it on either wing.

Analysis by Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:

The only drawback here is keeping one of the league's best attacking outlets happy when sharing minutes with others. Semenyo has never had to play a bit-part role at Bournemouth.

Clearly this move makes a lot of sense; Semenyo's direct threat and delivery coupled with the elite-level finishing of Erling Haaland could be devastating. There is a but, though.

Man City seemed to have moved past their pacy winger era. By that I mean to say that Guardiola's latest evolution does not necessarily herald wide play in the way it used to - where attacks were built around the likes of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane.

This version of City asks wide players to tuck inside, favouring the more technical type who can play intricate passes - like Rayan Cherki, as referenced above, and Phil Foden. Even Jeremy Doku is being asked to operate in more central zones this season.

Semenyo has so many attributes to thrive at a top Premier League club but his adaptability will likely be tested by Guardiola's ever-evolving methods at City, if indeed that is where he ends up.

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