Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City is now a Here We GO! And to be honest The deal felt inevitable long before it became official.
Since late December, the noise around Antoine Semenyo kept getting louder, and if Manchester City set their eye on a player, they do end up getting him more often than not.
For City, this is not just a luxury signing. This is a move that directly addresses a problem that surfaced last season and lingered into this one.
Why Semenyo to City makes perfect sense
Manchester City’s attack never lacked creativity. It lacked presence. Too often, the right side felt lighter than it should, especially in games where physical duels, second balls, and box occupation decided outcomes.
Ever since Mahrez left we have missed his flair on the right, Savio has struggled to settled in the Premier League, Bernardo Silva, Cherki and Foden are all better suited in midfield.
At Bournemouth, Semenyo showed why he stood out in a crowded Premier League field. He combined goals with aerial dominance, ball carrying, and relentless off-ball work. Among wide attackers, his numbers for aerial duels won and goals per 90 minutes placed him at the very top.
Semenyo is in the form of his life, and Manchester City have acted at the right moment.
What Pep Guardiola sees in him
Pep Guardiola has never signed attackers purely for output. He signs profiles. Semenyo fits multiple needs at once.
First, physicality. At over six feet tall, he offers something City do not have outside of Erling Haaland. A second strong body in the box changes how teams defend crosses, cutbacks, and late runs.
Second, defensive work. Semenyo tracks back aggressively, presses with intent, and does not switch off when possession is lost. That matters in a Guardiola system where wide players are expected to defend space, not just occupy it.
Third, ball carrying. He can pick the ball up deep and drive through pressure. That ability to turn defensive moments into attacking transitions is still underrated, but it is crucial in tight games, and this season we have seen Manchester rely on counterattacks more often.
Where he fits in the system
Semenyo is not coming to sit permanently on the bench. There may be a short bedding-in period, but over the season, his minutes will be significant.
The right wing is the most natural starting point. That is where City lacked direct goal threat beyond Haaland. With Jérémy Doku attacking from the left, City suddenly have balance, chaos on both flanks, and constant pressure on opposing fullbacks.
This also reshapes internal competition. Players like Savinho bring dribbling and flair, but as I said, he hasn’t hit the ground running. Semenyo brings the end product. In a team built to create chances, that difference matters.
Manchester City do not need another chance creator. They have Phil Foden and Ryan Cherki creating chances week in weekout. What they need is someone who can finish moves when Haaland is marked out of the game.
Semenyo does that. His confidence in front of goal is clear, and his current form suggests he will convert chances rather than hesitate. That alone elevates City in tight title races.
Apart from his goalscoring, Semenyo’s long throw-ins add a new tactical option. His aerial strength helps both boxes. His willingness to do the ugly work allows others to stay higher. These are the traits Guardiola values quietly, then builds systems around.
If Antoine Semenyo can carry his Bouremouth form in a City shirt, Manchester City’s attack looks lethal and one which can compete on all fronts.
