Having sold Dominic Solanke this summer, AFC Bournemouth will be hoping that the rest of the team can step up and provide the goals that will be missing due to the departure. Solanke contributed roughly a third of all Bournemouth goals last season, a staggering statistic which has led a lot of people to believe that they will struggle in this campaign.

From the outside, it looks as if that will be the case, having drawn both of their opening games, but the team is performing as well as ever, and have only been denied victory by some poor officiating. In those performances one player has stood out. Antoine Semenyo.

History

Semenyo is a 24 year old winger, born in London but represents Ghana internationally. He began his career at Bristol City and for a while played as a striker rather than a winger. He went on three loans, to Bath City, Newport County and Sunderland, before he broke into the first team in the 2020-21 season.

Our next academy payday is going to be the sell on from Semenyo... 🤩 proud to have been on the Antoine train long before it was popular 😅

— Bristol City FM (@BristolCityFM) August 25, 2024

It were his performances in the first half of the 2022/23 season that earned his move to the Vitality Stadium, as he joined in January 2023. He struggled in his first half season in the Premier League as injuries kept his minutes few and far between, but he did manage to score his first top flight goal in a 4-1 win over Leeds.

2023/24 Season

Last season was undoubtedly his best so far in his career. Under Andoni Iraola, Semenyo was used as a right sided winger with the ability to cut inside and let fly. He scored eight league goals and was Bournemouth’s second best attacking threat other than Solanke.

His most memorable appearance came against Luton Town, when the Cherries were 3-0 down at half time. He scored a second half brace to help Bournemouth to one of the greatest comebacks in Premier League history. In July 2024, he signed a new five year deal with the south coast club.

This season so far

Semenyo plays again today against Everton, and he’ll be hoping to continue his form in the league. Bournemouth have scored two goals this season in their opening two games, and Semenyo has registered a goal and an assist.

antoine semenyo is one of the best wingers in the prem, in our squad you just genuinely have to let him do what he wants.

right there behind his fellow countryman, kudus.

— t (@fl4wedski) August 25, 2024

In the opening two games, Semenyo has registered the joint most shots in the league with 12, alongside Eberechi Eze. As well as scoring, he has hit the crossbar and forced a number of important saves from both Mats Sels and Nick Pope. He has a number of different techniques in his locker, from long range curlers, to powershots, and as we saw with his goal, poacher’s efforts too.

With Evanilson coming in to replace Solanke, some of the pressure on Semenyo’s shoulders is likely to lift, as he is no longer the sole attacking threat, and Bournemouth fans will hope that some of their other attacking players such as Luis Sinisterra and Justin Kluivert can contribute too.