Antoine Semenyo scored Manchester City’s winner in the FA Cup final against Chelsea, capping a remarkable journey from non-league loans to Wembley glory. The 26-year-old winger’s path to the top has been anything but straightforward, marked by rejections, lower-league stints, and a meteoric rise since his £65m move from Bournemouth in January.
A Career of Resilience
Semenyo’s story began with relentless rejections from London clubs, culminating in being released by Crystal Palace at age 15, which led him to stop playing football for a year. He rebuilt his career at the Wiltshire Sports Academy in Swindon and South Gloucestershire and Stroud College in Bristol, eventually earning a professional contract at Bristol City at 17. Loans followed at Bath City in National League South, Newport in League Two, and Sunderland in League One, before he progressed to the Championship with Bristol City and then the Premier League with Bournemouth. International recognition with Ghana came next, including a spot at the 2022 World Cup.
This Season’s Triumph
Since joining Manchester City in January, Semenyo has made an immediate impact. He played in the Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal in March, his first silverware, and on Saturday scored the only goal in the FA Cup final against Chelsea—a spinning, back-heeled volleyed flick on 72 minutes. It was his 20th goal of the season, split evenly between Bournemouth and City. His 16 Premier League goals are second only to Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago, putting him in the conversation for player of the year awards. “It’s been surreal,” Semenyo says. “Everything’s just happened so quickly.”
Remarkably, Semenyo became the first former Bath City player to score in an FA Cup final since Stan Mortensen in 1953. But there is little time to reflect, as City chase a domestic treble. Arsenal lead the league by two points with two matches remaining, but City aim to push them all the way. Their next game is at Bournemouth on Tuesday night, followed by a final-day clash with Aston Villa.
Return to Bournemouth
Semenyo still speaks daily with his former Bournemouth teammates, who have been teasing him about the upcoming match. “To be honest, they’ve been giving me a lot of crap,” he says with a smile. “Just like they’re going to kick me and this and that. But it’ll be good to see them all. It won’t be weird going back.” Bournemouth have not lost in the league since Semenyo departed, a run of 15 matches. “I was the problem,” he deadpans. The club, under outgoing manager Andoni Iraola, is chasing Champions League qualification for the first time.
Mentality and Guardiola’s Influence
Semenyo credits his time at City with hardening his mentality, surrounded by winners and guided by Pep Guardiola. At half-time against Chelsea, Guardiola “demanded a little bit more,” Semenyo recalls. Asked if Guardiola was animated, Semenyo replies: “He was just normal Pep … a lot of emotion. However you want to take it, not a problem. But just normal Pep and just demanding a lot from us because he knows we can do it.” Guardiola has won 17 major trophies in 10 years at City, plus three Community Shields, and speculation continues about his future. Phil Foden, an unused substitute at Wembley, hopes Guardiola stays: “All I can say is it’s been a pleasure playing under him.”
For now, Semenyo is focused on the next challenge. “We’ll just focus on us,” he says. “We’re not focused on Arsenal and what they do. We just have to win our games and apply pressure the best way we can.”
