Antoine Semenyo has touched down in Manchester ahead of his £65million move to Pep Guardiola’s side.
The Ghanaian, 26, was the Premier League’s most-wanted man after details of his release clause emerged, but will complete his medical and sign with Man City on Thursday.
He secured a fairytale ending with Bournemouth on Wednesday evening, scoring the winning goal in the 95th-minute to secure his side’s 3-2 victory over Tottenham at the Vitality Stadium.
Semenyo departed the south coast at 7.18am this morning and arrived in Manchester Airport around 40 minutes later. He arrived on a black private jet and will head straight for his medical.
An initial fee of £62.5million has been agreed with Bournemouth plus add-ons and sell-on percentage. It is understood he may wear the No 42 shirt, previously worn at City by Yaya Toure.
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola said Semenyo deserved his perfect final bow with the club he signed for in 2023 from Bristol City for around £10million.
‘It’s not easy to do what he has done,’ Iraola said. ‘Most players would have acted differently.
‘He never found excuses. He was ready to give what we needed. We could keep him until the last second and it is fair that he leaves with the feeling he has at the end.
‘With the reception of the supporters, and all this. I am very happy for him.’
In what was virtually Semenyo’s last kick of the ball after two years in Bournemouth colours, he scored a goal that ended a run of 11 games without a win for the Cherries.
‘I am very happy for him personally because he deserves it,’ added Iraola. ‘A moment he will never forget. But it’s true a big miss, a player you cannot replace. He is an incredible player.
‘I don’t know how they will use him but he is a player improving every season with us and even before, in the lower divisions, stepping up and he is ready to do it again.’
The forward has shone for Bournemouth, scoring 10 goals in 21 appearances this season after scoring 13 in 42 last campaign.
He attracted interest from the Premier League’s biggest clubs, including Chelsea – who plotted a late swoop from under City’s nose – and Liverpool. Man United were also thought to have considered a move.
Jamie Redknapp bizarrely threw a spanner in the works on Sky Sports on Wednesday night when he claimed Liverpool could ‘still be in the equation’ and suggested that Semenyo’s move to City was not a certainty.
‘I think Liverpool could still be in the equation. I’ve got to be honest, why they haven’t come in as strongly (as City) I’m surprised because if you look at that position with Mohamed Salah and what happens with him and how long he’s going to be at the club for, we don’t quite know.
‘But if you have a player of that quality (Semenyo)… he’s showed he’s a matchwinner, he turns up in the big moments, why wouldn’t you be in for him?
‘I’m not saying it’s Sky Sports breaking news but I’ve heard tonight it might not be the foregone conclusion that everyone’s talking about him having a medical at Man City… there might still be a little twist.’
Meanwhile, Semenyo’s potential new team-mates suffered another blow to their title hopes on Wednesday when they drew 1-1 with Brighton, a result that was City’s third draw in a row.
It means that if Arsenal beat Liverpool on Thursday, the Gunners will go eight points clear at the top of the table as they edge closer to winning their first Premier League title since 2004.
