Man City snap up winger Semenyo from Bournemouth

VIDEO SHOWS: INTERVIEW WITH MANCHESTER CITY SIGNING ANTOINE SEMENYO  SHOWS: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 8, 2026) (MANCHESTER CITY HANDOUT – No commercial use. No resales.) 1. INTERVIEWER ASKING: "Antoine, huge congratulations on your move to Manchester City. Just try and give us an insight into the emotions that you're feeling right now, because I know you've worked incredibly hard to get to this point in your career." 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW MANCHESTER CITY SIGNING ANTOINE SEMENYO SAYING:      "Yeah, it's only sinking in now. To be honest, I had to work very hard to get to this point. And, yeah, I'm over the moon it's done, and I'm looking forward to the challenge." 3. INTERVIEWER ASKING:  "You're 26 now. Happy birthday for Wednesday, by the way. Thank you. Many people say that's kind of the perfect age for a club to buy an outfield player because you're coming into your best years. How do you feel about where you're at in terms of your development? And give us an idea of what kind of player City are getting."  4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW MANCHESTER CITY SIGNING ANTOINE SEMENYO SAYING:     "Powerful, quick, strong clinical playe,r still improving.  I feel like I'm still yet to reach my peak. I feel like I've got a lot of learning to do and joining City here, that's going to be the best thing for my development, best coaches, best players, and to take my game to the next level." 5. INTERVIEWER ASKING  "Your football journey to this point has been one about persistence and and determination. You know, you face rejection as a young player. But yeah, as we sit here today, you're one of the Premier League's finest talents. Just talk us through how you've done that and what characteristics you fought to lean on to get to this point?" 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW MANCHESTER CITY SIGNING ANTOINE SEMENYO SAYING: "Well, I've had to be a strong character, so I felt like emotionally, mentally, I've had to get really strong. I feel like I've had family friends, fiancee, around me, keeping me uplifted and always pushing me so yeah, I've had to push myself quite a bit, get through a lot of troubled times, hard times. And yeah, it's just made me the man I am today. Strong, fearless and ready to attack the world." 7. INTERVIEWER ASKING:  "So you've had an amazing period of success. I mean, we will know the Treble in 2023. Yeah, I believe you've seen the know the trophies today. And just over the last 10 years, really, our success has been unmatched. Can you just give me an idea of, as an outsider, what the perception of Manchester City has been over that period?" 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW MANCHESTER CITY SIGNING ANTOINE SEMENYO SAYING:      "I mean, you want to be part of the team, to be honest. You want to be winning those trophies. You want to be playing with the best players in the world. So yeah, that perception is you just want to be out and thank God I'm involved and we can win many more trophies." 9. INTERVIEWER ASKING:  "The final game at Bournemouth, it kind of really struck me that the reaction that you got from the crowd and what the manager said after the game, what your teammates were saying, you're obviously very, very loved there and that's exciting for, for City fans. How did it feel, you know, on that final day, especially to score the win? It was like something out of a film." 10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW MANCHESTER CITY SIGNING ANTOINE SEMENYO SAYING:     "Yeah, it's just everything just aligned. It felt wonderful, I was quite emotional as well, I think even leading up to the game. But yeah, loved my time there, loved everyone, teammates, players, medical staff, everyone in the world. And I tried to be myself with everyone and everyone seemed to love it, love it and warm up to it. So hopefully I can do the same here." 11. INTERVIEWER ASKING:  "Fantastic. Just one final thing that City fans are very excited about you coming. So I was wondering if you just had a message to them ahead of you playing your first game?" 12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW MANCHESTER CITY SIGNING ANTOINE SEMENYO SAYING:     "It is going to be a challenge to get in the title race, but I'm ready. I'm ready to be part of this journey and look forward to seeing you soon." 13. INTERVIEWER SAYING: "Antoine, huge congratulations again and good luck for your time here at City. 14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW MANCHESTER CITY SIGNING ANTOINE SEMENYO SAYING:     "Thank you very much." STORY:  Manchester City pulled off a major January coup by signing Ghana winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth on Friday on a deal running until 2031, bringing in the Premier League's third-highest scorer this season to bolster their title charge. The 26-year-old, who has bewildered defences with 10 goals and three assists this season, arrives with City reportedly meeting his 65 million pound ($87.19 million) release clause amid competition from other Premier League rivals. The versatile winger can operate on both flanks and joins a City side that trails leaders Arsenal by six points in the Premier League after 21 games. "I have watched City over the last decade under Pep 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," Semenyo said in a statement. "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. "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." The Ghana international has been in scintillating form this season after joining Bournemouth in 2023, having previously netted 21 goals for Championship side Bristol City. He began the Premier League season with a brace against champions Liverpool and maintained that momentum throughout the campaign, with his last goal for Bournemouth being a stoppage-time winner in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. "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," City's director of football Hugo Viana said. "His enthusiasm for this football club has been clear throughout this process. He has huge quality. Two great feet, pace, power, a habit of influencing games and, importantly, real room for growth and development. "I am excited to see the player Antoine can become in the weeks, months and years ahead." Semenyo will now join an already potent City attack featuring the league's top scorer Erling Haaland (20 league goals), Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku. City's next test comes on Saturday when they host Exeter City in the third round of the FA Cup.

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