rewrite this title Can Antoine Semenyo drag Manchester City to Premier League success this season? – Soccer News

While Antoine Semenyo might have only arrived at Bournemouth three years ago following a £10million move from Bristol City, the Ghana international has only continued to shine since joining England’s elite.

Enjoying a remarkable start to the 2025/26 campaign at the Vitality, the 26-year-old had a string of Premier League heavyweights who were chasing his signature during the January transfer window.

Setting the Etihad alight since completing a blockbuster £65million switch, Semenyo is relishing life under Pep Guardiola’s guidance and has made a stunning immediate impact in the blue half of Manchester.

Reigniting Man City’s Premier League title dreams since his arrival, the 32-cap international bagged the winner at Leeds on Saturday evening.

With the record-breaking Erling Haaland missing out at Elland Road with a reported knee issue, Semenyo will have more than a leading role to play if City are to mount a dramatic comeback and recapture their domestic crown at the first attempt.

Semenyo’s sensational start to life in Manchester

While Haaland might have only continued to shatter a string of records prior to opening the New Year, Guardiola had made it abundantly clear that he was once again looking to add some attacking reinforcements during the January transfer window.

Although they might have faced fierce competition from the likes of Chelsea and local rivals Man United, the Sky Blues officially announced Semenyo’s arrival on January 9th as they agreed a blockbuster £65million deal with Bournemouth.

With the Ghana international making it clear that a move to the blue half of Manchester was his sole priority, Semenyo couldn’t have imagined a better start to life at the Etihad.

Already firmly cementing his spot as the best piece of January business, the ex-Bristol City youngster has only further extended his sudden rise to superstardom.

Bagging the winner at Elland Road on Saturday evening and once again keeping City’s title dreams alive, Semenyo has already repaid a fair portion of his hefty January price tag.

Getting his Etihad tenure underway with a goal on his debut during City’s record-breaking 10-1 FA Cup victory against League One outfit Exeter City less than 24 hours after arriving from Bournemouth, the 26-year-old has already underlined his spot as a vital part of Guardiola’s squad.

Already registering eight direct goal contributions (six goals, two assists) in his first 11 appearances for the Premier League title chasers, Guardiola has unsurprisingly been filled with praise for his latest attacking superstar.

Antoine Semenyo keeps providing for Man City 💪 pic.twitter.com/LBAsISyTl8

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 28, 2026

Filling Haaland’s void

Although Semenyo might have enjoyed a sensational start to life at the Etihad, the pressure on his shoulders could quickly intensify over the coming weeks.

While City’s red-hot January recruit might have hit the ground running, their striking poster boy is dealing with a recent knee injury and Guardiola’s side are nervously awaiting a full update on Haaland’s fitness.

Missing out at Elland Road and watching from home as Semenyo bagged a hard-fought winner in Yorkshire, there is growing concerns that the Norwegian icon could miss what is a stacked and season-defining few weeks.

Notching 22 goals in his 27 Premier League appearances this season and still sat firmly in pole position to claim yet another Golden Boot, the former Borussia Dortmund ace has once again shattered a string of records this season.

Really getting back to his clinical best prior to his knee issue after a lowkey start to 2026, Semenyo will be the first to hope that his new strike partner can make a speedy return.

Facing a quick fire turnaround as they return to the Etihad on Wednesday night when they welcome Nottingham Forest to Manchester, Haaland faces a real race against the clock.

🚨 Pep Guardiola: “I don’t know when Erling Haaland will come back”.

“It’s not a big injury but he wasn’t ready to play vs Leeds”. pic.twitter.com/NNZV4yZGyw

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 1, 2026