Andoni Iraola offers significant “personal opinion” on Antoine Semenyo’s Manchester City transfer | OneFootball

Manchester City supporters are likely to see Antoine Semenyo in action for Bournemouth one more time before the player completes an Etihad Stadium switch.

Momentum around the Ghanaian international’s expected move to Pep Guardiola’s side has steadily intensified over the last month, with a series of aligned reports pointing towards a deal that is structurally agreed but not yet formally completed.

While it has been publicly stressed that no documents have been signed, the tone from all parties has increasingly suggested inevitability rather than uncertainty. Previous updates have already indicated that City and Bournemouth reached an agreement in principle, with paperwork delayed to allow Semenyo to feature in a run of key Premier League fixtures.

That approach was reinforced late in December when it was revealed that Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham were earmarked as potential final appearances for the forward before his anticipated departure.

From Manchester City’s perspective, there has been little urgency to rush the process. Personal terms are believed to have been agreed some time ago, with Semenyo set to sign a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium, earning in the region of £150,000-per-week.

Now, speaking to reporters ahead of Bournemouth’s home Premier League clash against Tottenham at the Vitality Stadium, manager Andoni Iraola admitted that there is a chance that Antoine Semenyo will be taking part in his final game for the club.

“Yes, yes; Antoine [Semenyo] will play tomorrow [against Tottenham], yes,” Iraola confirmed. “I can give you my opinion, from my experience, but there’s nothing signed with Antoine Semenyo.”

Iraola continued by admitting, “If you ask me, personally, what do I think, with all the noise, I think it could be the last game. But I cannot guarantee, it’s my personal opinion.

“I understand the market, the noise, but right now there’s nothing agreed, nothing signed, so for me he’s our player and I hope he continues.

“But my understanding also, I’ve been in other markets before in this club and others, there’s a chance it’s his last game.”

Should Antoine Semenyo indeed make his final Bournemouth appearance against Tottenham, attention is expected to shift rapidly towards formalising the move to Manchester City. Medical arrangements and final documentation are anticipated to follow swiftly once Bournemouth’s immediate fixture commitments are fulfilled.

For City supporters, the focus will then turn to how quickly Pep Guardiola integrates the 25-year-old into his squad, with the forward viewed as a versatile attacking option capable of adding physicality, pace, and tactical flexibility.

While official confirmation is still pending, Andoni Iraola’s candid “personal opinion” now appears to have brought the situation closer than ever to its long-expected conclusion.