Black Star Spotlight: Under Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo Shines as a Rising Star

Antoine Semenyo (25) has emerged as a fascinating player this season, reflecting the dynamic style of Bournemouth under the guidance of Andoni Iraola.

With 25 matches played, the Cherries find themselves just one point shy of the top four, boasting only one defeat in their last 15 outings, and are delivering some of the finest football in the English Premier League.

Semenyo’s impact has been significant, having netted seven goals and provided four assists, already exceeding his tally from the previous season.

Joining Bournemouth during the winter transfer window of the 2022/23 campaign, the Ghanaian winger had a modest start, scoring just once in his first six months, but has since blossomed.

In this edition of Black Star Watch, we delve into the factors behind Semenyo’s swift rise at Bournemouth.

With nearly the same amount of playing time this season as last—23.4 full 90-minute games each—this presents a perfect opportunity for comparison.

The transfer of Dominic Solanke to Tottenham at the onset of the 2024/25 season left a considerable gap in Iraola’s attacking formation. Solanke, who was a key figure with 19 goals and three assists, has certainly left big shoes to fill.

While Bournemouth secured Evanilson from Porto for a record £40.2 million, it was evident that the Brazilian would require time to settle into the Premier League.

As a result, Iraola seems to have placed more trust in the existing attacking players, with Semenyo among them.

With increased responsibility often comes the willingness to take risks, leading to potential rewards, and this has been evident in Semenyo’s performances this season.

Adopting the mindset of “if you don’t shoot, you don’t score,” Semenyo has taken the most shots in the team, amassing a tally of 92, which dwarfs Justin Kluivert’s 44 shots.

This is a marked contrast to the prior season when Semenyo had only 70 attempts over a similar time frame.

Clearly, Andoni Iraola has given Semenyo a defined role, which is highlighted by the winger’s remarkable average of 3.93 shots per 90 minutes this season, nearly a whole shot more than the 2.99 recorded last year.

Last season, Semenyo significantly outperformed his Expected Goals (xG) of 4.6 by a notable +3.4, finishing with eight goals. This season, while he sits slightly below his xG of 7.7 by -0.7, there is a strong belief that he’ll soon find the net more often.

His elevated shooting rate, along with enhanced shot quality—indicated by an increase in his Non-Penalty Expected Goals per Shot (npXG/Shot) from 0.007 to 0.08—hints at promising days ahead.

Semenyo’s overall involvement in matches has also witnessed a marked improvement this season. He is starting more frequently and averaging four extra touches per 90 minutes.

Additionally, his passing game has sharpened, achieving a pass success rate of 71.5%, up from 69.9% last season. While he has maintained the same number of key passes (29) as the previous year, he has boosted his Expected Assists (xA) from 2.3 to a commendable 3.2, and also increased his passes into the final third and progressive passes.

What truly distinguishes Semenyo is his ability to navigate with both feet; he consistently keeps defenders guessing as to his preferred side. Last season, he netted four goals with each foot, and this year, he has already scored three with his left and four with his right, demonstrating his versatility and dangerous potential in front of goal.

Semenyo’s remarkable goal against Chelsea exemplifies his transformation into a defender’s nightmare. He skillfully controlled the ball with his right foot, enticing Josh Acheampong to guide him wide, only to unleash an unstoppable shot with his equally powerful left foot, thrusting Bournemouth ahead at Stamford Bridge.

With 13 Premier League matches left in the season, Semenyo’s present form indicates that, if he maintains his fitness, reaching the 10-goal mark for the first time in his career is a very real possibility.

The Black Star Watch is an engaging weekly column penned by Owuraku Ampofo, a seasoned sports journalist with over five years of expertise covering Ghanaian players. This column seeks to uncover patterns, address pressing questions, and highlight trending topics related to Ghanaian footballers.