Former AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo has been nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season award after scoring 10 goals for the Cherries before his January move to Manchester City, completing an incredible rise from rejected academy prospect to top-flight star.
Former AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo has been nominated for the Premier League’s Player of the Season award after a sensational 2025/26 campaign which has elevated him into one of English football’s biggest success stories.
Semenyo enjoyed a stunning first half of the season with Bournemouth, scoring 10 Premier League goals in just 20 appearances before completing a January move to Manchester City. After signing off with a pivotal goal for the Cherries with his last ever touch in red and black in a 3-2 win against Spurs, the Ghanaian international wasted little time making his mark at the Etihad Stadium, registering three goals and an assist in his first five league outings while seamlessly adapting to Pep Guardiola’s system.
Antoine's Seamless Transition to City
His performances have helped keep City firmly in the title race, with Semenyo impressing in multiple attacking roles across the frontline and even in deeper midfield positions. His pace, power and direct style have added another dimension to Guardiola’s side, while his ability to deliver in big moments has further strengthened his growing reputation as one of the Premier League’s most dangerous forwards - nothing that is surprising to Cherries fans who watched him regularly.
The nomination places Semenyo alongside several of the division’s standout performers, including Arsenal trio Gabriel, David Raya and Declan Rice, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Brentford striker Igor Thiago and Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.
Semenyo's Rise to Stardom
Semenyo’s rise carries even greater significance given the remarkable journey he has taken to reach the very top of the game. Born in Chelsea to Ghanaian parents, Semenyo endured rejection from several academies during his teenage years, including unsuccessful trials with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace. One rejection at Palace reportedly left him so disillusioned that he briefly stepped away from football altogether.
A breakthrough opportunity eventually arrived through South Gloucestershire and Stroud College before Bristol City offered him a route into professional football. Loan spells with Bath City, Newport County and Sunderland helped develop his game before he emerged as one of Bristol City’s key attacking players in the Championship.
REUTERS/Scott Heppell Bournemouth secured his signature in January 2023 for a fee of around £10 million, a move that would prove transformational for both player and club. Under manager Andoni Iraola, Semenyo developed into one of the Premier League’s most explosive attackers, capable of playing on either wing or through the middle.
Across his Bournemouth spell, he scored more than 30 goals in all competitions and produced a series of memorable performances against some of the country’s biggest clubs. Highlights included goals against Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City - all of which have helped to put AFC Bournemouth within touching distance of Europe.
City’s £62.5 million move for Semenyo represented a huge profit for Bournemouth and underlined the scale of his development on the south coast. More importantly, it confirmed his transformation from a player once overlooked by academies into one of the Premier League’s elite attacking talents.
Supporters can now cast their vote for Semenyo on the Premier League website.