Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo has a £65 million release clause in his contract that becomes active only during the first two weeks of the January 2026 transfer window, BBC Sport has learned.
The release clause—inserted when the Ghana international signed a new five-year deal on 1 July 2025—was designed to ensure that if he is sold, Bournemouth would have enough time to secure a replacement.
Semenyo attracted serious interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, but the 25-year-old opted to remain at the Vitality Stadium. His improved contract now places his future squarely in the hands of clubs willing to meet the £65m valuation during the narrow activation period.
The winter transfer window opens for Premier League and EFL clubs on Thursday, 1 January 2026, and closes at 19:00 GMT on Monday, 2 February.
Semenyo in Exceptional Form
Semenyo has been one of the standout performers in the Premier League this season, scoring six goals and registering three assists in 11 appearances for Andoni Iraola’s side.
Last season, the forward reached a major milestone after hitting 11 league goals and 13 in all competitions, the highest tally of his career.
Bournemouth insiders say keeping him in the squad has been crucial after the club sold three of their defensive pillars—Illia Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez, and Dean Huijsen—for nearly £150m during the summer.
The club also failed to secure goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on a permanent deal following his loan spell, with the Spaniard joining Arsenal instead.
From Rejection to Premier League Star
Born in London, Semenyo qualifies to play for Ghana through his father. His rise to prominence is all the more remarkable given he was rejected by Arsenal, Tottenham, and Millwall as a youngster.
He later joined the football programme at SGS College in Bristol, led by former Leeds and Forest Green Rovers manager Dave Hockaday. From there, his potential was spotted by Bristol City, who signed him in 2017.
Loan spells at Bath City, Newport County, and Sunderland helped shape his development until he broke into the Bristol City first team during the 2020–21 season.
His big Premier League move came in January 2023, when Bournemouth signed him for £10m—a transfer that has proved transformative for both the player and the club.
Semenyo’s rapid improvement and consistent goal contributions have made him one of the most valuable players in Iraola’s system, and the £65m release clause now sets the stage for potential high-profile interest in January.