Antoine Semenyo: Why the Ghanaian Winger is Currently the Premier League's Best Player

October 8, 2025

Bournemouth are fourth in the Premier League and owe much of that position to the staggering form of Antoine Semenyo. Let's examine the data that places the Ghanaian among the league's elite, and ask the question: is there a more important player to their team in the Premier League right now?

Rise to Stardom

The Ghanaian forward has been on a steady ascent to stardom for several seasons, but 2025-26 definitely feels like the campaign he has truly stepped into the Premier League's elite. His numbers and influence for Bournemouth, a team punching above their weight, are obvious, but they also compare with, and in many ways surpass, players from the league's biggest clubs.

Perhaps it's time to change how we think about Bournemouth. Heading into the October international break, Andoni Iraola's side sit fourth in the Premier League amid their best start to a top-flight campaign. The Spaniard has transformed them into a side capable of beating anyone on their day.

And at the heart of their brilliant start is their talismanic winger Semenyo, the player who encapsulates their fast, fearless, counter-attacking identity.

Impressive Numbers

Semenyo has already scored six times and registered three assists this season. Bournemouth have scored 11 goals overall, meaning their star man has been involved in 81.8% of them. That is, unsurprisingly, the highest proportion of any player for any team this season.

After starring in Bournemouth's recent win over Fulham, Semenyo was asked whether he was in the best form of his life. "I'd like to think so," he replied modestly.

We'll say it more definitively: he most certainly is.

Seven-Month Dominance

This remarkable run of form actually began at the back end of last season. Semenyo scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Fulham in mid-April after a quintessential Bournemouth move. The Cherries won the ball deep, Alex Scott surged forward through midfield and fed Semenyo on the right. The winger squared up his full-back, feinted one way, cut inside and placed a finish into the far corner.

That moment sparked a run of form that hasn't stopped. Including that goal, Semenyo has scored 10 of Bournemouth's last 18 Premier League goals, while assisting four more. Put another way, across the last seven months of league action, there's a 77.7% chance that if Bournemouth have scored, Semenyo has been directly involved.

He has 10 goals in that time (level with Erling Haaland for the most of any Premier League player), and his 14 goal involvements over that span is the most in the competition.

Perfect for Iraola's System

What makes Semenyo so lethal in Iraola's system is that he's perfectly suited to the way Bournemouth play. The Cherries' philosophy is clear: press aggressively, win the ball back, attack fast. And they are very effective at doing that.

Bournemouth have scored four goals from direct attacks this season. These are effectively counter-attacks and are defined as open-play sequences that start just inside a team's own half, have at least 50% of movement towards the opposition's goal and end in a shot or a touch in the opposition's box. That is the most of any team, while only Liverpool (15) have produced more such attacks ending in a shot.

In possession, Bournemouth hold on to the ball for just 8.7 seconds per sequence and average only 3.3 passes. Looking at team-style comparison graphics, with the exception of Crystal Palace, Iraola's side are a stark contrast to the patient build-up of the teams around them in the table.

Athletic Attributes and Technical Excellence

When Bournemouth do regain possession, they look immediately for Semenyo. He's received more forward passes (110) and more passes into the final third (41) than any other Bournemouth player.

Semenyo's raw attributes make him perfect at receiving the ball in transition:

Fastest Bournemouth player in the squad
Hit the fastest top speed (34.2 km/h) this season
Only five players in the league have made more sprints than his 152

But pure athleticism isn't what makes him truly elite. It's what he does when he has the ball that really separates him.

Two-Footed Unpredictability

Semenyo is one of the most two-footed attackers in the Premier League. Of his 17 shots this season, eight have come from his right foot, eight from his left, and there was one header. His six goals are also split perfectly: three with his right, three with his left.

That symmetry makes him unpredictable, as he's able to drive to the byline or cut inside with equal ease. His first goal against Fulham in Matchday 7 perfectly demonstrated that ability, while Semenyo's comfort with both feet has enabled Iraola to deploy him on either wing, depending on the opponent.

Most Dangerous Ball-Carrier

He's also Bournemouth's most dangerous ball-carrier. Two of his six goals and two of his three assists this season have come after carries of five metres or more, and he leads the team for the average length of his ball carries (13.7m). Semenyo's ability to glide past defenders while maintaining control makes him one of the Premier League's most efficient transitional threats.

Future Transfer Speculation

Manchester United, Newcastle, Chelsea and Tottenham have all been linked with a move for him, but Semenyo signed a new five-year deal with Bournemouth over the summer to quash those rumours, at least in the short term. The reality is, however, that if he continues performing like this, holding on to him beyond this season will be a big challenge for Bournemouth.

In an interview ahead of the recent clash with Fulham, Iraola spoke proudly about Semenyo's form. "Antoine has improved every season, even before I came here. We have to encourage him to keep growing. I try to make him not look too much into the numbers...if we are playing well collectively, the numbers will arrive," he said.

Betting Perspective

Semenyo's form creates intriguing betting opportunities:

Individual Props:

Anytime goalscorer: Strong value given his involvement in 81.8% of Bournemouth's goals
Shots on target: Consistently high due to Bournemouth's direct style
Assists: Undervalued markets given his creativity in transition

Team Bets:

Bournemouth over goals: Their counter-attacking style produces high-scoring games
First goalscorer markets: Semenyo's frequent involvement in opening goals offers value
Both teams to score: Bournemouth's open style often leads to wild games

Transfer Speculation:

Odds on Semenyo's January transfer provide interesting long-shot value
Bournemouth top-half finish: If Semenyo maintains form, it's achievable

Statistical Comparison with Elite

Let's compare Semenyo's numbers with some of the Premier League's biggest names:

Goal involvement per team goal:

Semenyo: 81.8%
Haaland: ~70%
Salah: ~65%

Goals in last 7 months:

Semenyo: 10
Haaland: 10
Salah: 6

Goal contributions in last 7 months:

Semenyo: 14 (most in Premier League)

Conclusion

It's a good thing that while Semenyo might not be looking at the numbers, we absolutely are. And they support the story that our eyes can clearly see: that Antoine Semenyo is Bournemouth's best player, and that right now, he might just be the best player in the Premier League.

His combination of athleticism, technical skill, two-footedness and tactical understanding makes him a complete attacker. In Iraola's system that maximizes his strengths, Semenyo has become indispensable - the player around whom Bournemouth's entire attacking plan is built.

For Bournemouth, the challenge is keeping him. For Premier League fans, it's a privilege to watch him flourish. And for betting enthusiasts, he represents one of the most interesting players to watch and wager on in the entire league.

Thanks to Stats Perform for the data

Photo: footyghana.com

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