Manchester City confirms £64m signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth on a five-and-a-half-year deal through June 2031, assigning the 26-year-old Ghanaian winger the iconic number 42 jersey unworn since Yaya Touré’s 2018 Etihad departure. Semenyo first donned 42 at Bristol City, calling it motivational after 24 was taken, now inheriting Touré’s legacy central to four Premier League titles.
No.42 stayed retired post-Touré’s eight trophy-laden seasons, briefly held earlier by Bradley Wright-Phillips and Glenn Whelan. Semenyo’s left-wing flair 110 Bournemouth appearances, meteoric Premier League rise from Championship loans positions him as Guardiola’s immediate squad boost eligible for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final at Newcastle.
Bournemouth’s Iraola hails “irreplaceable” talent. £425.9m spent on 14 players past 12 months underscores Guardiola’s reinforcement amid title defense across four competitions. Semenyo touched down Manchester Airport via private jet, rejecting Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham advances. Touré’s shadow looms large. Semenyo’s No.42 reign begins.
