Bournemouth
Semenyo addresses transfer talk and explains decision to stay at Bournemouth
Semenyo says he is happy to remain at Bournemouth for 2025-26 and credits Iraola for his form in 2025
Antoine Semenyo has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most influential players this season and says he is content to have remained at Bournemouth for 2025–26. Despite sustained speculation over his future, Semenyo made clear he has focused on his football and on contributing to the team.
“I try to stay present as much as I can,” Semenyo told Sky Sports. “You see the news all the time, I see it as well. I’m not oblivious but I try to stay focused. I don’t think about it too much.” He added: “I’m enjoying my football here. If I’m not scoring goals, all of that goes away. I try to stay present, do the best I can for the team, score goals and whatever happens in the future happens.”
The Ghana international has nine Premier League goal involvements this term, the most of any player outside of Erling Haaland, and has scored six goals in 10 appearances. Those numbers have helped him attract transfer interest; the summer window included a £50 million bid from Manchester United to try to sign him for Old Trafford.
Unlike former Bournemouth teammates Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Illya Zabarnyi, who completed big-money moves elsewhere, Semenyo stayed. He said there was active negotiation with the club but that his belief in manager Andoni Iraola played a major part in his choice. “There was a lot of interest and back-and-fourth with the club [over a potential transfer],” Semenyo said. “But I knew in my head that the manager’s got something up his sleeve this year. How we finished off the season last year was so good and we could continue, especially with the players we’ve bought in as well.”
Semenyo described Iraola’s impact on the squad when speaking to Jamie Redknapp. “He’s unbelievable [Iraola] honestly,” Semenyo told Jamie Redknapp. “As everyone embedded into what his playing style was, it’s just been unbelievable. It’s just relentless and I think everyone’s into it.”
Now 25 and off to the best start of his career, Semenyo remains based at Vitality Stadium as Bournemouth sit fourth in the Premier League table.
Bournemouth
Guardiola: Haaland Operating at Messi and Ronaldo Level After Bournemouth Victory
Guardiola says Haaland is playing at Messi and Ronaldo level after scoring his 17th in 13 games. EPL
Pep Guardiola declared Erling Haaland to be operating at the level of peak Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after the Manchester City striker scored his 17th goal of the season in 13 appearances.
Haaland has 13 Premier League goals, the last two coming in Sunday’s 3–1 win over Bournemouth, already more than half of his final tally of 22 from last season with 28 league matches still to play. City’s next top scorer in the Premier League this term is unexpectedly Maxime Estève, who plays for Burnley and was responsible for two own goals when the teams met in September. No other City player has scored more than once in the league; Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly all have one goal each.
That concentration of goals has invited questions about reliance on Haaland, but Guardiola pushed back after the Bournemouth game. “The last game we played without him against Swansea and scored three goals,” he said, referring to last week’s Carabao Cup victory when the Norwegian was left out due to a minor fitness concern; he possibly would have been rested anyway.
“It’s like when you play with Messi or Ronaldo, their influence is so big,” Guardiola added. “Of course, we need the goals from Phil, Tijjani and the other ones who had the chances. You see the numbers of [Haaland]? Of course he’s that level.
“The difference is Messi and Ronaldo have done it for 15 years, but this is the level. The first goal [against Bournemouth], the way he shoots the ball, it’s like ‘I am going to score.’ He has that hunger. It’s top. I’ve said many times how incredibly coachable and manageable he is.
“I am tough sometimes with him, but he is open-minded. He lives for the goals and sometimes the pressure cannot sustain 90 minutes, but that’s normal. Without him it would be tough to be honest, but we are lucky that Omar [Marmoush] is back, and we have fit players, it’s good.”
Haaland already holds the Premier League single-season record of 36 goals from 2022–23. At his current 2025–26 rate he could exceed 40 league goals; with an average of 1.3 goals per game through 10 appearances, projections in the draft suggested he could approach 50. Historically, only nine players have reached 40 or more league goals in a season, and Dixie Dean’s 60 in 1927–28 remains the all-time mark.
Bournemouth
Haaland Brace and Cherki Supply Propel Man City to 3-1 Win Over Bournemouth
Haaland’s brace and Cherki’s creativity delivered a 3-1 Man City win and defensive control. Tonight.
Manchester City moved within six points of Arsenal after a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth in the penultimate Premier League match of the week. Erling Haaland scored twice in the first half, both goals set up by Rayan Cherki, and Nico O’Reilly extended the lead after the interval.
Haaland opened the scoring in the 17th minute after Cherki released him from inside his own half. Bournemouth responded from a corner when Tyler Adams converted a loose ball following a failed Donnarumma clearance. City players protested to referee Anthony Taylor but VAR checked and allowed the goal; it was Adams’ first Premier League goal. Haaland restored the lead before half-time with a composed finish after another incisive pass from Cherki. O’Reilly’s strike in the 60th minute sealed the result. Haaland was withdrawn in the 82nd minute for Omar Marmoush; it was the 15th time he was taken off after scoring a brace and marked his fourth straight home match with two goals. Rodri returned as a stoppage-time substitute, his first appearance since the injury suffered against Brentford earlier in the season; he is the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.
Player ratings (out of 10)
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma — 6.7: Should have done better on the corner for Bournemouth’s only goal of the evening.
RB: Matheus Nunes — 7.7: Performed well and dealt with Semenyo and Adrien Truffert for most of the night.
CB: Rúben Dias — 6.9: The Portuguese was solid at the back and looks to be building some consistent form.
CB: Joško Gvardiol — 6.9: Put in some big tackles and won four of his six duels.
LB: Nico O’Reilly — 8.3: Probably should’ve had two goals on the night, but will be happy to secure his first goal of the season.
DM: Nico González — 7.7: The Spaniard had another strong showing knowing competition for places will increase given the return of Rodri.
DM: Bernardo Silva — 6.8: A more quiet night for the Portuguese. In and out of the game at times.
RW: Rayan Cherki — 8.6: The creative spark that set Haaland free for both of his first half goals.
AM: Phil Foden — 8.0: Active and accurate in a central creative role on his 200th league appearance for the Cityzens.
LW: Jérémy Doku — 7.4: Completed the most dribbles (5) and created the most chances (4).
ST: Erling Haaland — 9.1: Scored two clinical goals after blanking last time out in the Premier League.
Subs used: Tijjani Reijnders 6.1, Savinho 6.5, Omar Marmoush N/A, Rodri N/A, Rayan Aït-Nouri N/A. Unused: James Trafford, John Stones, Nathan Aké, Rico Lewis.
Bournemouth started in a 4-2-3-1. Match stats showed City with 53% possession, xG 1.76 to Bournemouth 0.37, nine shots to two and six corners to one.
Bournemouth
Adams’ Bournemouth Equaliser Makes It Five Competitions with a Goal
Adams’ equaliser at Manchester City lifted his career tally to seven and across five competitions. .
Tyler Adams produced a notable moment for AFC Bournemouth on Sunday, converting an equaliser at Manchester City to draw his side level. The goal arrived in the 25th minute when Adams barreled in a corner kick, temporarily cancelling out Erling Haaland’s 17th-minute opener. Haaland then responded with a 33rd-minute strike to put Manchester City 2–1 up at half.
