Ghana Boss Pushes Antoine Semenyo to Take “Next Step” Amid Liverpool & Manchester City Transfer Links

Semenyo, Ghana & Rising Transfer Interest From Liverpool and Manchester City

Antoine Semenyo’s rise from promising Championship winger to one of the Premier League’s most exciting wide forwards has been quick, powerful, and almost impossible to ignore. And now, just months after signing a long-term contract with Bournemouth, the 25-year-old has become the centre of a growing transfer storm involving Liverpool, Manchester City, and even Tottenham.

It was during the World Cup draw in Zurich that Ghana head coach Otto Addo decided to say out loud what many in football have been whispering privately: it might be time for Semenyo to leave the south coast and take the next step in his career.

Speaking with confidence – and with clear admiration for the player he helped bring through the Ghana national team – Addo told The Athletic it would be “natural” for Semenyo to move on from Bournemouth, especially with a £65 million release clause currently active for the January transfer window.

From Bournemouth’s perspective, it’s a delicate moment. The club tied the winger to a new deal in the summer, hoping to protect themselves from losing him too soon. Yet the fine print seems to have changed everything. A release clause that disappears after a certain date, followed by a second reduced clause next summer, means January could be Bournemouth’s last chance to cash in at maximum value.

And when giants like Liverpool and Manchester City hover over a player with blistering pace, direct movement, and a work rate that suits modern pressing systems, the pressure is only going to increase.

Semenyo’s Bournemouth Journey: Growth, Stability & a Surprise Twist

South Korea v Ghana – International Friendly Semenyo

Just a few months ago, the story seemed settled. Semenyo was happy, Bournemouth were happy, and the Premier League was just beginning to see what he could become.

After signing his new contract – one that runs until 2030 – Semenyo spoke with warmth about his development on the south coast:

“I’ve grown so much at the club, both on and off the pitch,” he said at the time. “From the fans to the staff and my teammates, I can’t speak highly enough of the people around the club.”

There was a sense that Bournemouth had created a home for him, the sort of environment promising players often crave. But nobody outside the club seemed aware of the release clause that has now put Europe’s biggest teams on red alert. According to reports, that £65m figure will drop to £50m next summer – a fee comfortably within the range of any major Champions League competitor.

The numbers on the pitch justify the attention. Six goals and three assists in his opening 13 Premier League matches this season tell the story of a player growing in influence each week. More than that, though, his performances have been bold: raw pace out wide, fearlessness in transition, and a willingness to attack defenders in one-on-one situations.

Liverpool see a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah one day. Manchester City see a profile that fits the Pep Guardiola mould of flexible attacking roles – explosive wide creativity combined with the ability to press from the front. And Tottenham have watched him as a possible addition to Ange Postecoglou’s high-tempo, all-action football.

Ghana Boss Otto Addo: “It Is Natural for Him to Take the Next Step”

The World Cup draw offered the perfect platform for a conversation about semenyomania. Ghana landed in a headline-grabbing Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama, sparking huge excitement in Accra and London alike.

When asked about his star winger’s future, Addo didn’t hesitate:

“He has done very well at Bournemouth, but with all the respect for Bournemouth and what they’re doing, surely it is natural for him to take the next step,” he told The Athletic. “Whether it’s in the winter or summer is a different question, but it won’t make a difference for us. I’m looking forward to him showing more of what he can to the world.”

Addo’s message was clear: Semenyo is ready. And from a Ghanaian perspective, the bigger the club he plays for, the bigger the spotlight when the World Cup arrives in 2026.

Facing England in the group stages creates a dramatic narrative. Ghanaian fans still remember the heartbreak of 2010. England fans will relish a new chapter. And Semenyo, playing potentially for a Premier League titan, could become one of the faces of the tournament.

Iraola Focused on the Present, Not Semenyo’s Transfer Future

Back on the south coast, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is trying to keep the focus on the pitch. In November, the Spanish coach dismissed speculation around Semenyo, pointing out the season had only just begun.

“We are in November. Antoine is our player,” he said. “In January, you can ask me about the market, but right now I’m not worried about the next markets.”

Those comments came at a very different moment, though. Bournemouth were flying unexpectedly high – they sat in the Premier League’s top four earlier in the campaign. Since then, results have dipped sharply. Four losses in five games have dragged the Cherries down to 14th, and suddenly every point matters again.

That change in form could influence everything. If Bournemouth continue to struggle, it becomes harder to argue Semenyo should stay for another project cycle. The club needs results now. They also need money to build. And £65m could reshape the squad in the space of a single transfer window.

What Comes Next for Antoine Semenyo?

The immediate next step is football. Bournemouth face Chelsea at home this weekend, desperate to stop their slide. Chelsea, wounded after a 3-1 defeat to Leeds, will arrive with something to prove. Iraola knows the scale of the challenge:

“I expect the best Chelsea,” he said. “We know this. We have to be at our very best because the opposition is playing very well.”

The rotation will continue, he added, hinting that Bournemouth will spread the load across the squad. But if Bournemouth are going to beat Chelsea, there’s no doubt they’ll need Semenyo at full speed, tearing into space and turning defence to attack in a heartbeat.

Beyond that? The January window opens in a few weeks. Liverpool have decisions to make. Manchester City rarely wait when they see a player they want. Tottenham are rebuilding a squad around youth and intensity.

And somewhere in all of this stands Semenyo himself – a player who only a short time ago was learning his trade at Bristol City, now preparing for a World Cup clash with England and attracting interest from football’s biggest names.

The question isn’t whether he will make the next step. It’s when.