Man City complete Semenyo signing with contract until 2031 as deal agreed has add-ons and sell-on clause as well.
Man City sign Antoine Semenyo for initial £62.5m on contract to 2031.
According to Antoine Semenyo, he joined Manchester City with the goal of re-entering the Premier League title chase. With 17 games left, the £62.5 million acquisition puts the team six points behind the leaders, Arsenal.
Semenyo might make his FA Cup debut on Saturday against Exeter. The 26-year-old’s deal from Bournemouth, who could receive £1.5 million in add-ons and are entitled to 10% of any future profit, was confirmed on Friday. In order to sign him, City overcame competition from Manchester United and Liverpool.
“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.”
After spending time on loan at Bath and Newport before thriving with Bristol City and Bournemouth, Semenyo’s path to Champions League football has been convoluted. Semenyo is a long-throw specialist who has contributed three assists and scored ten goals in 20 Premier League games this season.
Pep Guardiola, who has won 18 major championships with the team in over ten years, will be Semenyo’s manager. But City’s lack of a trophy at the end of the previous campaign is something they will not want to happen again.
“I’ve had to be a strong character,” Semenyo said. “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.”
“You want to be winning those trophies and playing with the best players in the world,” Semenyo said.