Manchester City have completed the signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in a deal worth up to £64 million, marking the most significant transfer of the January 2026 window and taking the club's spending over the past 12 months to a staggering £425.9 million across 14 players.

The Ghana international put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half-year contract at the Etihad Stadium on January 9, beating off competition from Premier League rivals Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Chelsea, all of whom had shown keen interest in the prolific forward.

City agreed a deal with Bournemouth slightly below Semenyo's £65 million release clause, paying a guaranteed fee of £62.5 million spread over 24 months, with an additional £1.5 million in performance-related bonuses. Bournemouth also secured a 10 percent sell-on clause, while Bristol City, Semenyo's former club, will receive 20 percent of any profit from the sale.

The 26-year-old wasted no time making an impact in sky blue. Despite signing just one day before the FA Cup third-round tie against Exeter City, Pep Guardiola included the forward in his squad, and Semenyo immediately hit the ground running with a goal and an assist in a dominant 10-1 victory over the League Two side.

Semenyo departed Bournemouth in emphatic fashion, scoring a dramatic 95th-minute winner in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Tottenham at the Vitality Stadium in what proved to be his final appearance for the Cherries. That late strike perfectly encapsulated the form that attracted City's attention, with the forward registering 10 goals and three assists in 20 Premier League appearances this season.

Speaking after completing his move, Semenyo expressed his excitement about the next chapter of his career. He said his best football is yet to come and that City are in a great position to help him reach that level. The forward will wear the number 42 shirt at his new club.

City's director of football Hugo Viana revealed the club's pursuit of Semenyo was made easier by the player's determination to join the reigning champions. Viana noted that Semenyo made it clear immediately that City was his preferred destination.

Guardiola praised his new signing's versatility and technical ability, highlighting how Semenyo plays extraordinarily on both sides and can use both legs unbelievably. The Spaniard's admiration for the forward's ability to operate across the front line suggests Semenyo will be given opportunities to feature in multiple attacking positions.

The signing represents another major investment in City's forward line as Guardiola continues to reshape his squad. With the transfer window remaining open until February 2, there remains the possibility of further business, though securing Semenyo appears to have been the club's priority for the winter market.

For Bournemouth, the sale represents excellent business for a player they developed into one of the Premier League's most dangerous attackers. The Cherries will now look to reinvest the funds as they continue their impressive top-flight campaign under manager Andoni Iraola.