Antoine Semenyo to join Man City for £64m despite Liverpool ‘twist’

Manchester City are set to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in a deal worth up to £64 million, with a guaranteed fee of £62.5 million structured so that City avoid activating his £65 million release clause.[3] Additional performance-related add-ons are expected to take the total package to around £64 million.[3]

The article explains that City’s approach mirrors other recent big transfers, using staggered payments and bonuses rather than triggering the full clause up front.[3] Bournemouth will also benefit from a sell-on arrangement, with a percentage of any future profit due to former club Bristol City.[3]

Semenyo’s outstanding form this season, including a dramatic late winner against Tottenham that ended Bournemouth’s long winless run, has accelerated interest from top clubs.[1][2] He has reached double figures in Premier League goals and established himself as one of the division’s most dangerous wide forwards, combining power, pressing and direct running.[1][2]

The piece addresses claims of a late Liverpool “twist”, noting that Liverpool and other clubs had tracked Semenyo, but clarifying that City were always in the strongest position once they moved decisively to agree a fee.[2][3] Suggestions of Liverpool hijacking the move are described as speculative, with no serious indication they were prepared to match City’s offer structure.[3]

For Liverpool, the transfer is framed within a wider market context: Semenyo is admired but not seen as a priority target at that price point, especially with other squad needs and existing attacking options.[3] For City, however, he is viewed as a versatile forward who fits Pep Guardiola’s tactical demands and adds depth across the front line.[1][2][3]