Will market value rise soon?
Bournemouth continues to impress under the leadership of Andoni Iraola. Despite the departure of three key defenders—Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi, and Milos Kerkez—to major clubs like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Liverpool, the Cherries have climbed to third place in the Premier League standings. While Iraola deserves significant recognition, much of Bournemouth’s success can be attributed to the outstanding form of their star player, Antoine Semenyo.
As shown in the graphic, the Ghanaian forward has directly contributed to 82% of Bournemouth’s goals this season—boasting three assists and six goals. Semenyo has already notched a brace against reigning champions Liverpool and another against Fulham last weekend, proving to be a consistent offensive threat. With a current market value of €40 million, there’s a strong likelihood it will rise in the upcoming October Premier League market value update. So, just how impressive have Semenyo’s contributions been for Bournemouth? And what has been his journey in football thus far? Let’s explore.
Antoine Semenyo’s Goal Contributions Since Last Season
Looking back to the start of last season, only six players in the Premier League have more goal contributions (goals + assists) than Semenyo, who has achieved 26 in just 44 appearances. This surpasses notable players like Cole Palmer (25), Bruno Fernandes (21), and Bukayo Saka (19). While Mohamed Salah (51), Erling Haaland (35), and Alexander Isak (30) are in a league of their own, Bryan Mbeumo is the only player not associated with a club that qualified for Champions League last year to outshine Semenyo’s stats in the top flight.
Achieving this for a club outside the upper echelon of English football, albeit under an astute manager, is a remarkable accomplishment for Semenyo. With interest from top-tier Premier League clubs reported over the summer, his form is expected to attract even more attention in future transfer windows. Rumors suggest Chelsea is monitoring the 25-year-old’s progress closely. Semenyo’s ascent has been rapid, and his path through the English football ranks has been anything but conventional.
From Bath City to the Premier League: The Rise of Antoine Semenyo
Born in London to a father who played in the Ghanaian Premier League and a mother holding French citizenship, Semenyo developed his skills at Bristol City. His rise in the game took some time to materialize. In 2018, at just 18 years old, he was loaned to Bath City, competing in the sixth-tier National League South. However, he made his Championship debut that same season, becoming the 10th youngest player to represent Bristol City during their 3-2 victory over Sheffield United on the final day. His initial market value was set at €500k in 2019.
Following loan spells at Newport County and Sunderland, Semenyo established himself as a key first-team player at Bristol in the 2020/21 season. The following year, he recorded an impressive 20 goal contributions in 31 Championship matches for the Robins. In 2022, Bournemouth made a strategic move investing €10.25 million to bring him to the Vitality Stadium—a decision that may eventually be recognized as one of their best. At that time, his market value was only €3 million. With the upcoming Premier League market value update, it is anticipated that his value will exceed €50 million. The Championship has proven to be a rich hunting ground for talent, and in Semenyo, Bournemouth has discovered a remarkable player.
