Antoine Semenyo
Ghanaian footballer.
Antoine Semenyo is an English-born Ghanaian professional footballer who currently plays as a forward for AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. Born on January 7, 2000, in London, Semenyo has quickly risen through the ranks of English football. He began his professional career with Bristol City, making his senior debut in 2018. After impressing in the Championship and during loan spells at Bath City, Newport County, and Sunderland, Semenyo established himself as a key player for Bristol City. His performances caught the attention of Premier League clubs, leading to a move to AFC Bournemouth in January 2023 for a reported fee of £10 million.Since joining Bournemouth, Semenyo has adapted well to the demands of top-flight football.
In his first full season with the club (2023-24), he made 33 Premier League appearances, scoring 8 goals and providing 2 assists. His versatility allows him to play across the front line, primarily as a right winger but also capable of playing on the left or as a center-forward. Semenyo's rapid progression from the lower leagues to becoming a regular Premier League player demonstrates his potential and adaptability.
Early life & youth football
Semenyo's early life and youth career were primarily spent in England. He began his football journey with local clubs before joining Bristol City's youth academy. Semenyo progressed through Bristol City's youth ranks, impressing coaches with his pace, power, and goal-scoring ability. His talent was evident from a young age, and he quickly moved up through the age groups. In 2017, Semenyo signed his first professional contract with Bristol City at the age of 17. Before making his senior debut, he gained valuable experience playing for Bristol City's U18 and U23 teams.
This period in Bristol City's youth setup was crucial in shaping Semenyo's development as a player and preparing him for the challenges of professional football.
Professional career
Antoine Semenyo's professional career began with Bristol City in 2017 after impressing for South Gloucestershire and Stroud College's football academy. He made his Bristol City debut on the final day of the 2017–18 season, coming on as a substitute in a 3-2 loss to Sheffield United.To gain more first-team experience, Semenyo was loaned out to Newport County in League Two for the 2018-19 season. This loan spell proved crucial for his development.
He made 32 appearances for Newport across all competitions, scoring 6 goals. Semenyo's performances helped Newport reach the fifth round of the FA Cup and the League Two play-offs. His loan was cut short on January 28, 2019, when Bristol City recalled him.Upon returning to Bristol City, Semenyo began to feature more regularly for the first team.
He made 4 Championship appearances in the remainder of the 2018-19 season. In June 2019, he signed a new four-year contract with Bristol City, demonstrating the club's faith in his potential.The 2019-20 season saw Semenyo make 9 appearances for Bristol City in the first half of the campaign. However, to continue his development, he was loaned out to Sunderland in League One on January deadline day 2020 for the remainder of the season.
This loan spell was less successful than his time at Newport, as Semenyo made only 7 appearances for Sunderland without scoring.The 2020-21 season marked Semenyo's breakthrough at Bristol City. He played consistently, making 50 competitive appearances across all competitions, scoring 5 goals and providing 7 assists. This was a significant step forward in his career, establishing him as a regular first-team player for the Championship side.
Semenyo's development continued in the 2021-22 season, which proved to be his best at Bristol City. He won the EFL Championship Player of the Month award for January 2022 after scoring three goals and providing three assists. By the end of the season, Semenyo had scored 8 goals and provided 12 assists in 32 games across all competitions. His performances earned him Bristol City's Young Player of the Year award for the 2021-22 season.
The first half of the 2022-23 season saw Semenyo continue his good form for Bristol City. He made 32 appearances across all competitions, scoring 9 goals and providing 2 assists. His performances attracted attention from Premier League clubs, leading to his transfer to AFC Bournemouth in January 2023.Throughout his time at Bristol City, Semenyo made a total of 108 appearances for the club, scoring 21 goals and providing 22 assists across all competitions.
His journey from academy prospect to key first-team player demonstrated his development and the success of Bristol City's youth system.Semenyo's loan spells, particularly at Newport County, were crucial in his development. They provided him with valuable first-team experience at a young age, helping him adapt to the physical demands of senior football. While his loan at Sunderland was less successful in terms of playing time, it still offered him exposure to a different environment and level of competition.
Semenyo joined AFC Bournemouth from Bristol City on January 27, 2023, for a reported fee of £10 million, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract. His arrival at Bournemouth marked a significant step up in his career, moving from the Championship to the Premier League.In the remainder of the 2022-23 season, Semenyo made 11 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth, scoring one goal. His Premier League debut came shortly after joining the club, and he quickly began to adapt to the demands of top-flight football.
Semenyo's first league goal for Bournemouth came on April 30, 2023, in a 4-1 home victory against Leeds United. This goal was a crucial moment for Semenyo, helping him establish himself in the team and demonstrating his ability to perform at the Premier League level.The 2023-24 season saw Semenyo become a key player for Bournemouth under head coach Andoni Iraola. He made 33 appearances in the Premier League, scoring 8 goals and providing 2 assists.
This marked a significant improvement in his goal-scoring output compared to the previous season. Semenyo's performances were characterized by his versatility, often playing on the right side in Iraola's 4-3-3 formation.Semenyo's contributions were crucial in helping Bournemouth secure their Premier League status for another season. His ability to play across the front line, either as a winger or striker, made him a valuable asset for the team.
Throughout the season, he demonstrated his pace, direct running, and improved finishing ability.In total, across the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, Semenyo made 44 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth, scoring 9 goals and providing 2 assists. His performances showed a clear progression as he adapted to the Premier League, becoming more influential in the team's attacking play.Semenyo's impressive form and development at Bournemouth led to the club offering him a new contract.
On July 5, 2024, he agreed to a new five-year deal, extending his stay at the club until 2029.
National team
Semenyo's international career represents Ghana at the senior level. Despite being born in England, Semenyo chose to represent Ghana, the country of his parents' heritage. He made his debut for the Ghana national team on June 1, 2022, in a friendly match against Madagascar at the age of 22. Since then, Semenyo has become an increasingly important player for Ghana, earning 21 caps and scoring 2 goals as of February 2024.
Semenyo has participated in several major tournaments for Ghana. He was part of the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, making two appearances in the tournament. Additionally, he has featured in Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches and the Africa Cup of Nations itself. His first international goal came in a friendly against Switzerland on November 17, 2022, showcasing his ability to perform on the international stage.Semenyo's versatility and attacking prowess have made him a valuable asset for Ghana's national team. His performances in international friendlies and competitive matches have helped him establish himself as a regular in the squad, with the potential to be a key player for Ghana in future tournaments.
Player’s style
Semenyo's style of play is characterized by his versatility, pace, and direct approach. Primarily deployed as a right winger, he is also comfortable playing on the left flank or as a center-forward. Standing at 1.85m tall, Semenyo combines physical strength with good technical ability, making him a challenging opponent for defenders.
His speed allows him to beat defenders in one-on-one situations and make effective runs behind the defense.Semenyo is known for his direct style of play, often looking to take on defenders and create scoring opportunities. He possesses good dribbling skills and the ability to shoot with both feet, making him unpredictable in attacking situations. His work rate and willingness to press opponents make him valuable in both attacking and defensive phases of the game.
As he continues to develop, Semenyo's combination of physical attributes and technical skills suggest potential for further improvement in his goal-scoring and assist-making abilities at the highest level.