Andoni Iraola expects Wednesday’s Premier League meeting between Bournemouth and Tottenham to double as a farewell for Antoine Semenyo, with the winger widely seen as close to joining Manchester City and a 65m release clause reportedly active during the opening fortnight of the January transfer window.
The Ghana international is said to have selected City ahead of Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, despite all three clubs holding interest in the Bournemouth forward, whose contractual clause allows any buyer to complete a move if the fee is met during that early January period.
Semenyo’s form offers clear reasons for such strong attention, with 12 Premier League goal contributions this season, made up of nine goals and three assists, a return
bettered only by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland with 23 and Brentford forward Igor Thiago with 15 across the current league campaign.
Bournemouth expect Semenyo to feature against Spurs at the Vitality Stadium, and Iraola believes that appearance is likely to be a farewell, although club officials have not yet confirmed an agreement with City or any other side, leaving the situation open heading into the final hours before kick-off.
"I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow or the next two, three days, but I've asked before coming here just to tell me," Iraola said. "Otherwise,I will look foolish there talking about Antoine and then [he leaves]. And that's the situation in this moment of the day. "
Back at home on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/GZWqddXe9MAFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) January 5, 2026
Iraola stresses that, despite constant talk over Semenyo’s next club, nothing is finalised and the forward remains available for selection, with the head coach balancing transfer uncertainty against the need for points as Bournemouth face Tottenham again after a 1-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in August.
"I think it could be the last game. That is my personal opinion, but there is nothing agreed and nothing signed. It is my personal opinion as I understand the market and the noise, but there is nothing agreed right now. He right now, he is our player and I hope it continues. "
Bournemouth chase a first league double over Spurs, yet recent form is poor, with the team failing to win any of the last 11 Premier League matches, drawing five and losing six, their longest winless sequence within a single top-flight season and second-longest overall after a run from May to October 2023.
