Top clubs in the race to secure Semenyo’s signature

With the Winter transfer window for the Premier and English Football League(EFL) looming, clubs around the world are looking for top talent to sign; And one of the nameson the radar is Antoine Semenyo.

The Bournemouth winger had already attracted interest over the summer from the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur but decided to stay at the Vitality, signing a five year deal on July 1. However, it seems that the 25 year old has a £65 million release clause that can be activated during the first two weeks of the window. This peculiar clause seems to be AFC Bournemouth’s safeguard mechanism as it would enable the club to find a suitable replacement in the remaining time.

But a replacement for a player of such calibre is easier said than done. Since coming to the PL in January 2023, the Ghanaian international has gradually improved, notching double figures for the first time last season with 13 goals and 20 goal contributions in all competitions. He is on track to beat that number this year with 9 G/A in only 11 matches, helping keep Bournemouth afloat after the club’s defence was ransacked in the summer window with Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez all leaving in big money moves to Real Madrid, PSG and Liverpool respectively.

The release clause has changed things, inviting interest from not only Spurs and Manchester United but also Chelsea and Liverpool

Semenyo’s rise to the top has been nothing short of spectacular. Originally born in London to a father of Ghanaian origin, the winger was rejected by Arsenal, Spurs and Millwall before joining a programme at SGS College in Bristol, run by former Leeds United and Forest Green Rovers manager Dave Hockaday. Even after Bristol City signed him in 2017, he made the first team only in 2020-21 following loan spells at Bath, Newport and Sunderland.

With Bournemouth currently sitting at a solid 9th and no comment from Semenyo himself, the rumours were touted to be speculative. But the release clause has changed things, inviting interest from not only Spurs and Manchester United but also Chelsea and Liverpool, against whom he scored a brilliant brace to start the season.

While his move is far from certain, especially with the short window of negotiation and the aforementioned club’s summer signings such as Alejandro Garnacho finding their groove, the thought of him transferring after a big deal does not seem entirely unrealistic either. Moreover, Semenyo seems to have his sights set on the league leaders as well with the player
confessing last year that he is an Arsenal fan:

It is great to play against Arsenal, a team I have watched all my life and I want to play for the top clubs as well. In order for that to happen, I need to prove it