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Five year deal
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Antoine Semenyo has now completed his blockbuster move to Manchester City. This Friday the Sky Blues announced the deal which is expected to have cost an initial €72 million plus €1.7m in potential add-ons. The Ghanaian arrives having already scored 10 Premier League goals for Bournemouth this season. Numerous English top-flight teams had been linked with Semenyo but City got their man. Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United all held an interest in the Ghanaian international but his preference was to join Pep Guardiola’s men.
Speaking in a Manchester City club statement, Semenyo said: “I am so proud to have joined Manchester City. I have watched City over the last decade under 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." He could make his debut for the Sky Blues at the Etihad against Exeter City in the FA Cup this weekend.
Why Manchester City wanted Semenyo
It might raise eyebrows why Man City were so eager to sign Semenyo as they aren’t short of players that can be deployed in wide areas. Semenyo has predominantly played on the left-wing and Jérémy Doku has impressed in that role for City this season. Moreover, Savinho and Omar Marmoush can both occupy that position and City paid €75 million just last January to sign the latter from Frankfurt.
But City clearly believe that Semenyo is an attractive market opportunity at a reasonable price and he could be decisive in their bid to win the Premier League title. They are currently six points behind leaders Arsenal. Semenyo has been outstanding for Bournemouth across the last 18 months and he’s registered 13 goal contributions in the league this season - only Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago have more. You can read a detailed breakdown of Semeyo’s incredible rise here.
