Guardiola: All I can say is thank you to Semenyo for joining Man City

Pep Guardiola expressed his joy after the addition of Antoine Semenyo to his Manchester City squad was confirmed on Friday.

After ending his Bournemouth career with a stoppage-time winner against Tottenham on Wednesday, Semenyo signed a five-and-a-half-year deal at the Etihad Stadium.

He became the sixth player to score a winning goal in the 90th minute in their final Premier League appearance for a club, and the first since Ross Barkley for Chelsea in 2022.

Semenyo has scored 10 goals and provided three assists in the English top-flight this season, with new team-mate Erling Haaland (20 goals, four assists) one of only two players to have directly contributed to more goals (also Igor Thiago – 16 goals, one assist).

City have confirmed that Semenyo could feature in their FA Cup third-round tie against Exeter City on Saturday, as well as their EFL Cup semi-final first-leg against Newcastle United on Tuesday.

Guardiola was delighted that Semenyo chose to join City, adding to their strength across the frontline.

"Everybody knows the qualities [he has] – he was playing extraordinarily at Bournemouth in the last few years and can play both sides," said Guardiola of Semenyo.

"He uses both feet unbelievably. He can play as a striker too, with his pace. He knows the Premier League; many clubs wanted him, but he decided to join us. All I can say is thank you to him, and we're pleased for the next years.

"[For] a long time we’ve followed him. And in the end, the situation we have with the wingers, we have three specific players with Oscar [Bobb], Savinho and Jeremy [Doku], we need to reinforce for the next years, which is why the club made the gesture to take him.

"He's the perfect age, the best years are to come, all the clubs try to bring in young players, but he will make his career and best years here."