Detailed AFC Bournemouth Season Preview: Insights and Predictions

Where did AFC Bournemouth Finish Last Season?

Smiles all round on the first day back 😁 pic.twitter.com/LUfrHBZzyF

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) July 5, 2025

Though last season’s ninth placed finish didn’t earn any team accolades or break any club records, it was by far and away the most impressive the Cherries have looked in a Premier League season.

Led by the ever-growing tactical genius of Andoni Iraola, the sea-siders are slowly putting together a squad that can challenge for Europe - last season, their frontline of Justin Kluivert, Antoine Semenyo, Evanilson and Dango Ouattara boasted some of the best chemistry of any attacking lineup in the league, and their young defensive pairing Ilya Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen proved their most stable in years.

One of the younger sides in the league last year, boasting an average matchday squad age of roughly 25, the Cherries surprised many, beating the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham at the Vitality Stadium as they rose to fifth place by mid-February.

However, injuries struck, and a drop in form meant Iraola’s side had dropped out of the race for Europe by the penultimate matchday. Still, 2024/25 showed exactly what Bournemouth are all about - high press, high intensity, high risk, high reward. Should they stick to that template, and replace some important outgoing names, they could be in for another exciting campaign.

Best Result: Bournemouth 5-0 Nottingham Forest (Kluivert 9’, Ouattara 55’, 61’, 87’, Semenyo 90+1’)

Worst Result: Liverpool 3-0 Bournemouth (Diaz 26’, 28’, Nunez 37’)

Who Have Bournemouth Signed So Far In The Summer Transfer Window?

Bafode Diakite from LOSC Lille - £30.3 Million + £4.3 Million Add Ons

BREAKING: Bournemouth agree deal to sign Lille defender Bafode Diakite for £30.3m plus £4.3m in add-ons 🍒

The potential signing would be Bournemouth's second most expensive purchase in their history behind Evanilson. pic.twitter.com/pxauiGkSVD

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 10, 2025

Amine Adli from Bayer Leverkusen - £25.8 Million

Ben Doak from Liverpool - £25 Million

Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea - £25 Million

Alex Jimenez from AC Milan - Season long loan with £16.4 Million Obligation to Buy

Adrien Truffert from Stade Rennais - £11 Million + £3 Million in Add Ons

Veljko Milosavljevic from Red Star Belgrade - £13 Million

Total Spent: £146.5 Million + £7.3 in Potential Add Ons

Who Have Bournemouth Sold So Far In The Summer Transfer Window?

Ilya Zabarnyi to Paris St Germain - £56.5 Million

Bournemouth have sold Illia Zabarnyi to PSG in a deal worth up to $77m.

Last season's defence 👋 pic.twitter.com/GG4ts1lfxF

— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 12, 2025

Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid - £50 Million

Dango Ouattara to Brentford - £42 Million

Milos Kerkez to Liverpool - £40 Million

Jaidon Anthony to Burnley - £8 Million

Hamed Traore to Olympique Marseille - £6 Million

Philip Billing to FC Midtjylland - £4.3 Million

Mark Travers to Everton - £4 Million

Chris Mepham to West Brom - £1.5 Million

Joe Rothwell to Rangers - £425K

Neto to Botafogo - Free Transfer

Kepa Arrizabalaga to Chelsea - End of loan deal

Luis Sinisterra to Cruzeiro - Season long loan with Obligation to Buy

Max Aarons to Rangers - Season Long Loan

Max Kinsey to Truro City - Season long loan

Ben Winterburn to Barnet - Season long loan

Alex Paulsen to Lechia Gdansk - Season long loan

Jonny Stuttle to Walsall - Season long loan

Daniel Jebbison to Preston North End - Season Long Loan

_Total Recieved: £205.2 Million _

AFC Bournemouth 2025/26 Squad List

Goalkeepers: Djordje Petrovic, Will Dennis.

Defenders: Marcos Senesi, Bafode Diakite, Alex Jimenez, Adam Smith, Veljko Milosavljevic, Julio Soler, Julian Araujo, James Hill, Matai Akinmboni, Adrien Truffert.

Midfielders: Lewis Brown, Philip Billing, Romain Faivre, Lewis Cook, Alex Scott, Ryan Christie, Tyler Adams, Justin Kluivert.

Attackers: David Brooks, Evanilson, Marcus Tavernier, Antoine Semenyo, Enes Unal, Ben Doak, Amine Adli.

AFC Bournemouth 2025/26 Home, Away and Third Kits

Introducing our 2025/26 Home Kit 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VJXjjtZnEo

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) July 15, 2025

New Bournemouth away kit is out ⚫️🔵

Fancy seeing it soon at Summer Series? 👀 pic.twitter.com/MuEUikmkkO

— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) July 29, 2025

🚨🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | Bournemouth's new third kit for the 2025/26 season. 🌸 pic.twitter.com/rS8pFe2ERV

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) August 12, 2025

What is AFC Bournemouth’s Opening Premier League Fixture?

Liverpool vs Bournemouth | Anfield, Liverpool | Friday, August 15th, 20:00

How Can I Watch Liverpool vs Bournemouth?

The opening game of the season will be broadcasted on Sky Sports, and although the specific Sky channel is yet to be announced, it is likely it will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event or Sky Sports Premier League.

What are AFC Bournemouth’s First Five Fixtures of the Season?

Liverpool vs Bournemouth - Friday, August 15th.

Bournemouth vs Wolves - Saturday, August 23rd.

Tottenham vs Bournemouth - Saturday, August 30th.

Bournemouth vs Brighton and Hove Albion - Saturday, September 13th.

Bournemouth vs Newcastle United - Saturday, September 20th.

When Do AFC Bournemouth Play Rivals Brighton in 2025/26?

With primary rivals Southampton relegated back to the Championship after a dire Premier League showing last season, Bournemouth’s main rivals for the upcoming campaign will be fellow south coast side Brighton - the two teams are situated 125 km apart.

"It was hard and we suffered after the red card" 🗣️

Fabian Hurzeler reflects on Brighton going up to fifth after a 2-1 win over Bournemouth with 10 men for a third of the game 🔵 pic.twitter.com/YbtCEKk28y

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 23, 2024

Bournemouth vs Brighton - TBC.

Brighton vs Bournemouth - TBC.

Last Five Results:

- 25/02/2025: Brighton 2-1 Bournemouth.- 23/11/2024: Bournemouth 1-2 Brighton.- 28/04/2024: Bournemouth 3-0 Brighton.- 24/09/2023: Brighton 3-1 Bournemouth.- 04/04/2023: Bournemouth 0-2 Brighton.

Who is Bournemouth’s Manager for 2025/26?

In just two years at the Cherries, Andoni Iraola has transformed the side, and has shown exactly why there was so much hype around his appointment two summers ago. One of countless talented coaches to come out of Spain, Iraola’s vision differs from most of his compatriots.

While many of his countrymen prefer the patient, possession-heavy approach that saw their nation dominate the world stage throughout the 2010’s, Iraola is unique in his style. The Spaniard encourages endless running, pursues high turnovers, and generally never lets his opponents get comfortable, even deep in their own half.

The Bournemouth squad took to his tactics like ducks do to water, and last season averaged 5.7 turnovers in the final third of the pitch each game, more than any other side. Their aggressive press also saw them make more fouls per game than anyone (13.8), and pick up the second most yellow cards (97).

However, given the success they had against big sides last season, as well as their sustained push for Europe, it seems these fouls are all part of Iraola’s bigger plan, so don’t expect them to muffle their aggression.

Who is Bournemouth’s Player to Watch?

Antoine Semenyo

Accumulating his best top flight season figures to date, the Ghanaian winger became one of the Premier League’s most sought after players following a stellar 2024/25 season.

Though Semenyo had made waves in the 2023/24 thanks to his direct running and frequent shooting threat, his numbers put larger sides off making a move - eight goals and two assists in 36 games was a good return, but nothing more than good.

Antoine Semenyo looking sharp in the off-season. 🔥💨 pic.twitter.com/LFidR3hIl8

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) July 7, 2025

However, situated on the left of a front four of Kluivert, Evanilson and Ouattara, Semenyo developed significantly last campaign, netting 13 times and assisting six more. A crucial part of the Bournemouth attack that scored a club record 58 Premier League goals, he is a vital part of Iraola’s plan - do not be surprised if he is offered a new contract this summer to ward off interest from elsewhere.

AFC Bournemouth 2025/26 Season Prediction

Now a comfortably established Premier League side, Bournemouth's focus has rapidly shifted in recent years. No longer looking for ways to avoid the relegation battle, their priority now is upward progress- they shocked a host of big sides last season, and their attacking lineup (which has stayed more or less untouched despite the transfer window) can cause problems for any side on their day.

However, one glaring issue is in defence - last seasons backline mainstay's Milos Kerkez, Ilya Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen and Kepa Arrizabalaga have all moved to pastures new, leaving the Cherries bereft of defensive cover. Petrovic is a more than adequate replacement for Kepa, and Truffert looks set to be Kerkez' replacement, but having to find a new centre-back pairing so late in the transfer window could prove a hopeless task. While the big fees recieved for Huijsen and Zabarnyi in particular mean that Iraola's side can throw their weight around in the market, most potential targets have already found a new home, creating a dilemme for the Spaniard.

With the attacking options at their disposal, Bournemouth will finish comfortable mid-table, but whether they challenge for Europe or not is now in the hands of their recruitment team. If they can bring in even one high-caliber new centre-back, Europe could be calling.

Football Park's Prediction: 10th.