Antoine Semenyo says he has arrived at Manchester City with the intention of getting the club back into the Premier League title race. The £62.5m signing joins a team six points behind the leaders, Arsenal, with 17 matches remaining.
The 26-year-old’s transfer from Bournemouth, who could receive £1.5m in add-ons and are due 10% of any future profit, was confirmed on Friday and Semenyo could make his debut against Exeter in the FA Cup on Saturday. City fought off competition from Liverpool and Manchester United to secure his signature.
“It’s going to be a challenge to get into the title race but I’m ready and I’m ready to be part of this journey,” said Semenyo, who has a five-and-a-half year deal. “It’s only just sinking in now, to be honest. I’ve had to work very hard to get to this point and I’m over the moon it’s done.”
It has been a circuitous route for Semenyo to Champions League football, the forward having spent time on loan at Bath and Newport before flourishing with Bristol City and Bournemouth. Semenyo has scored 10 goals and provided three assists in 20 Premier League games this season and is a long-throw specialist.
“I’m still improving and I feel like I’m still yet to reach my peak,” Semenyo said. “I feel like I’ve got a learning to do and joining City is the best thing for my development. The best coaches and best players – taking my game to the next level.
“I’ve had to be a strong character. Emotionally and mentally, I’ve had to get really strong. I have my family, friends and fiancee around me, keeping me uplifted and always pushing me. I’ve had to push myself quite a bit to get through a lot of hard times. It’s made me the man I am today: strong, fearless and ready to attack the world.
Semenyo will work under Pep Guardiola, who has secured 18 major trophies in almost a decade at the club. City, however, finished without silverware last season, a scenario they will not want to repeat. “You want to be winning those trophies and playing with the best players in the world,” Semenyo said.
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Semenyo ended his three-year stay at Bournemouth by scoring the decisive late goal in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory at home to Tottenham on his 26th birthday. Bournemouth bought him from Bristol City for £10m and must give the Championship club 20% of the profit they make from the sale.
