Manchester City have completed the signing of Ghana international Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in a deal worth around £65million.
The transfer represents a club-record sale for the Cherries after City met Semenyo’s release clause, which needed to be activated before Saturday.
City will pay an initial £62.5m in 24 monthly instalments, with a further £1.5m due in performance-related bonuses.
The 26-year-old has signed a contract until 2031 and will wear the No.42 shirt, previously worn by club legend Yaya Touré, who won three Premier League titles during his eight-year spell at the Etihad Stadium.
Semenyo bid an emotional farewell to Bournemouth on Wednesday night, scoring a stoppage-time winner in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Tottenham.
Manchester City beat competition from Premier League rivals Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs to secure his signature.
The London-born winger has been in outstanding form this season, scoring four goals in his last six appearances.
He currently sits third in the Premier League scoring charts with 10 goals from 20 matches, behind new team-mate Erling Haaland (20) and Brentford forward Igor Thiago (16).
Antoine Semenyo is now just one league goal away from matching his best-ever Premier League return, having scored 11 goals in 36 starts last season.
Bournemouth signed Semenyo from Bristol City for around £10m in January 2023. He departs the south coast club with an impressive record of 32 goals and 13 assists from 110 appearances in all competitions.
He began his career in the Championship with Bristol City, registering 21 goals and 21 assists in 125 games, and also enjoyed loan spells with Sunderland, Newport County and non-league side Bath City.
Semenyo initially joined Bournemouth on a four-and-a-half-year deal and signed a contract extension last summer that had been due to run until 2030.
“I am so proud to have joined Manchester City,” Semenyo said.
“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 [Guardiola].
“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.”
“Antoine is a really exciting signing for the football club. He made it clear to us immediately that it was City he wanted to join,” director of football Hugo Viana said.
“He has huge quality. Two great feet, pace, power, a habit of influencing games and, importantly, real room for growth and development.
“We are constantly watching players all over the world. Antoine was the one we most wanted. He has shown he can perform in the Premier League. He is humble, hard-working, professional and totally focused on being a better footballer. He is ideal for us.”
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