AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola has expressed his desire to retain Antoine Semenyo amid growing speculation that the Ghanaian winger could depart during the January 2026 transfer window.
Semenyo, who has a reported £65 million release clause, has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City, with suggestions that a deal could be concluded when the transfer window reopens.
Addressing the speculation ahead of Bournemouth’s English Premier League (EPL) trip to Brentford on December 27, Iraola admitted there was uncertainty surrounding the situation.
“You never know what is going to happen,” Iraola said at his press conference.
“In the summer there were a lot of movements. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the winter movements.”
The Bournemouth boss stressed that, while transfer decisions were often beyond a coach’s control, Semenyo remained a key figure in his plans.
“At the end, you sign a contract and understand that both parties are happy when you sign it. But me as a coach, I can only tell you I hope we don’t lose him, because he is very important for us,” Iraola said.
“I don’t know what is going to happen. I can’t control what’s going to happen.”
Iraola was also full of praise for the 25-year-old’s impact since arriving at the club in 2023, highlighting his consistency and overall contribution beyond goals.
“Antoine, for me, has been performing very well. Not just the last two games where he has scored. He has consistently been very good since the beginning. Even when not scoring, he is still valuable for us. At the end, we don’t just demand numbers. It is no secret he is a massive player for us,” he remarked.
Since joining Bournemouth, Semenyo has recorded 28 goals and 10 assists in 97 EPL appearances, underlining his importance to the Cherries’ attacking setup.
