Manchester City sign Antoine Semenyo for initial £62.5m on contract to 2031 | Transfer window

Antoine Semenyo says he has arrived at Manchester Metropolis with the intention of getting the membership again into the Premier League title race. The £62.5m signing joins a group six factors behind the leaders, Arsenal, with 17 matches remaining.

The 26-year-old’s switch from Bournemouth, who might obtain £1.5m in add-ons and are due 10% of any future revenue, was confirmed on Friday and Semenyo will likely be within the squad to face Exeter within the FA Cup on Saturday. Metropolis fought off competitors from Liverpool and Manchester United to safe his signature.

“It’s going to be a problem to get into the title race however I’m prepared and I’m able to be a part of this journey,” mentioned Semenyo, who has a five-and-a-half-year deal. “It’s solely simply sinking in now, to be sincere. I’ve needed to work very arduous to get so far and I’m over the moon it’s carried out.”

Semenyo is in line to make his debut at house to Exeter as a part of a robust squad after Pep Guardiola mentioned he couldn’t afford to relaxation gamers with the group needing to get their season again on observe after three straight league attracts. The pinnacle coach mentioned there can be “not a lot” rotation. “We’ve got to return again to profitable video games and the FA Cup is the FA Cup,” Guardiola mentioned.

It has been a circuitous route for Semenyo to Metropolis and Champions League soccer, the ahead having hung out on mortgage at Tub and Newport earlier than flourishing with Bristol Metropolis and Bournemouth.

“I’m nonetheless bettering and I really feel like I’m nonetheless but to achieve my peak,” Semenyo mentioned. “I really feel like I’ve bought studying to do and becoming a member of Metropolis is the most effective factor for my improvement. One of the best coaches and finest gamers – taking my sport to the following degree.

“I’ve needed to be a robust character. Emotionally and mentally, I’ve needed to get actually sturdy. I’ve my household, pals and fiancée round me, retaining me uplifted and all the time pushing me. I’ve needed to push myself fairly a bit to get by lots of arduous occasions. It’s made me the person I’m immediately: sturdy, fearless and able to assault the world.”

Semenyo has scored 10 targets and supplied three assists in 20 Premier League video games this season and is a long-throw specialist, although whether or not Guardiola utilises it stays to be seen. “I’ve many hundreds of priorities [bigger] than that,” Guardiola coach mentioned.

Semenyo ended his three-year keep at Bournemouth by scoring the decisive late aim in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory at house to Tottenham on his twenty sixth birthday. Bournemouth purchased him from Bristol Metropolis for £10m and should give the Championship membership 20% of the revenue they make from the sale.